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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1981
DR FANG REPEATED THE MESSAGE THAT DISABILITY AND HANDICAP ARE NOT, NECESSARILY, THE SAME THING. A PERSON MAY BE DISABLED BY SOMETHING SUCH AS DEAFNESS OR PARALYSIS, BUT WHETHER OR NOT THESE CONSTITUTED A HANDICAP WAS UP TO THE COMMUNITY.
HE SAID THAT ONE IN TEN PERSONS SUFFERED FROM A HANDICAP OF ONE DESCRIPTION OR ANOTHER AND THAT, WHEN FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WERE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, ABOUT 25 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION OF ANY TERRITORY HAD A DIRECT INVOLVEMENT WITH DISABLEMENT.
+WE ARE TRYING TO REACH THE OTHER 75 PER CENT, SAID DR FANG.
THE MEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS, SPONSORED BY THE BRITISH CREDIT CARD OPERATION ACCESS, HAS DRAWN, SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1960, A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
EARLIER IN THE DAY, DR FANG HAD BEEN AT NO. 10 DOWNING STREET WHERE HE PRESENTED TO MRS MARGARET THATCHER A CHARTER FOR THE EIGHTIES' WHICH CONTAINS RECOMMENDATIONS TO COVER THE NEXT DECADE AIMED AT IMPROVING THE LIFE OF THE DISABLED.
DR FANG IS PRESIDENT OF REHABILITATION INTERNATIONAL, THE WORLD'S CO-ORDINATING BODY FOR THE DISABLED, AND WILL REMAIN SO UNTIL 1984.
MR WILSON SAID THAT HIS CONTRIBUTION TO IMPROVING THE LOT OF THE DISABLED HAD ALREADY BEEN CONSIDERABLE. + I THINK HE IS A GREAT STIMULUS TO US ALL, HE SAID. HE IS VERY HIGHLY RESPECTED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.+
DR FANG SAID THAT A CONTINUING TASK FOLLOWING ON FROM THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE DISABLED WAS TO CHANGE THE ATTITUDES OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THE DISABLED ARE JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE, HE SAID, ALTHOUGH THEY MIGHT NEED HELP IN OVERCOMING CERTAIN DISADVANTAGES.
DR FANG ALSO LECTURES AT HONG KONG UNIVERSITY AND IS A CONSULTANT AND DIRECTOR TO MANY HOSPITALS AND REHABILITATION SERVICES.
HE PLAYS A LEADING PART IN THE HONG KONG COUNCIL FOR THE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY DISABLED AND IS CHAIRMAN OF THE SOCIETY FOR REHABILITATION.
HE IS IN BRITAIN TO ATTEND AN INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON THE PREVENTION OF DISABLEMENT, ORGANISED BY THE BRITISH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY, AT THE HISTORIC LEEDS CASTLE.
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