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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1981
IMPROVEMENT IN SERVICES FOR DISABLED
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THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES MR ERIC HO, TODAY (SUNDAY) POINTED OUT THAT SOME SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT HAD BEEN MADE IN THE PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
ADDRESSING THE INAUGURAL SESSION OF THE 5TH ASIAN CONFERENCE ON MENTAL RETARDATION, HE SAID: THERE HAVE BEEN BETTER PREVENTIVE AND IDENTIFICATION SERVICES, MUCH IMPROVED SOCIAL WELFARE AND MEDICAL FACILITIES, PROVISION OF MORE PRE-SCHOOL CARE CENTRES, SPECIAL SCHOOLS AND RESIDENTIAL HOMES, TO NAME A FEW OF THE SERVICE AREAS OF PARTICULAR RELEVANCE TO THE MENTALLY RETARDED.+
MR HO SAID THAT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS REHABILITATION POLICY THE GOVERNMENT HAD DRAWN UP A COMPREHENSIVE 10-YEAR REHABILITATION PROGRAMME PLAN IN 1976.
+SINCE THE ADOPTION OF THE 1977 WHITE PAPER THIS PROGRAMME PLAN HAS BEEN REVIEWED ANNUALLY AND ROLLED FORWARD ONE YEAR EACH TIME, SO THAT WE CONTINUALLY KEEP UP A 10-YEAR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, HE ADDED.
MR HO ALSO STRESSED THE PART PLAYED BY THE FAMILY IN THE REHABILITATION AND RE-INTEGRATION OF ITS DISABLED MEMBERS.
+ALTHOUGH MOST FAMILIES HAVE LITTLE OR NO PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, THE FACT THAT THEY ARE UNDER THE SAME ROOF MEANS THAT THEY ARE IN THE FRONT-LINE TO PROVIDE NEEDED ASSISTANCE AND SERVICE TO THEIR DISABLED MEMBERS, HE SAID.
HE TOLD THE DELEGATES THAT HK'S REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES WERE GEARED IN THIS DIRECTION.
+WE HAVE LAUNCHED A GENERAL FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMME, EXPANDED OUR PARENTAL COUNSELLING SERVICES AND INTEND TO MAINTAIN AN INTENSIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT THEY CAN AND SHOULD DO TO HELP THE DISABLED ACHIEVE INTEGRATION, HE SAID.
MR HO NOTED THAT OTHER THAN THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES THE CONFERENCE WOULD ALSO PROVIDE FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF COMMON GOALS AND THE DRAWING UP OF PLANS FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
+ I WISH YOU EVERY SUCCESS IN THIS FORMIDABLE BUT MEANINGFUL TASK WHICH IS ALSO IN ACCORD WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS FOR A LONG-TERM PLAN OF ACTION BEYOND 1981.+