MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1981
ACHIEVEMENTS OF DISABLED RECOGNISED
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IT WAS A PROUD MOMENT FOR 21 DISABLED PERSONS THIS EVENING (MONDAY) WHEN THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, PRESENTED THEM WITH AWARDS AND PRIZES IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THE YEAR.
THEY WERE THE 10 WINNERS OF THE OUTSTANDING DISABLED PERSONS OF THE YEAR AWARD AND THE 12 WINNERS OF THE +1981 INDUSTRIAL SKILLS CONTEST+ OR +ABILYMPICS+. ONE OF THEM HAS WON BOTH AWARDS.
THE RECIPIENTS WERE AMONG THE WINNERS OF VARIOUS EVENTS FOR THE DISABLED HELD LOCALLY AND ABROAD TO MARK THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE DISABLED PERSONS.
SPEAKING AT THE PRESENTATION IN GOVERNMENT HOUSE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CENTRAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS (CCCIYDP), DR HARRY FANG, SAID THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR, HIS COMMITTEE WAS SERIOUSLY CONTEMPLATING WHETHER OR NOT TO STAGE A GRAND FINALE TO MARK THE END OF THIS SPECIAL YEAR.
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+AFTER CONSIDERABLE DEBATE, THE COMMITTEE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT SHOULD NOT. THIS IS BECAUSE TO DO SO WOULD CREATE THE WRONG IMPRESSIONS THAT THE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND INVALUABLE ACTIVITIES GENERATED IN THE YEAR WOULD COME TO AN END.
+THIS AS ALL OF YOU KNOW IS FAR FROM THE TRUTH.
+ INDEED, YOUR EXCELLENCY HAS REMINDED ALL OF US AT THE RECENT OPENING SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT THE PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN STARTED IN THE YEAR MUST CONTINUE, HE SAID.
THE PRESENTATION WAS ATTENDED BY SOME 200 INVITED GUESTS ENGAGED IN REHABILITATION WORK AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS INCLUDING THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR ERIC HO, AND THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR REHABILITATION, MR KEVIN MAK, WHO IS ALSO THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE CCCIYDP.
SPEAKING OF THE UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH IN REHABILITATION SERVICES IN HONG KONG, DR FANG SAID, +SUCH UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED BUT FOR THE UNFAILING SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM YOUR EXCELLENCY AND A GOVERNMENT PERSONIFIED IN THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES TOTALLY COMMITTED TO THE CAUSE OF REHABILITATION.+
HE CONTINUED: +HONG KONG'S PERFORMANCE IS PROBABLY BETTER GAUGED AGAINST THE TARGETS FOR ACTION MADE IN THE REHABILITATION INTERNATIONAL'S CHARTER FOR THE 80'S. OUT OF 34 RECOMMENDATIONS MADE AS TARGETS AT THE COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL LEVEL, 25 OR 75 PERCENT HAVE BEEN OR ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED.+
THIS IS AN IMPRESSIVE RECORD BY ANY STANDARD, HE STRESSED.
DR FANG FORECAST THAT THE 1980S' WOULD ALSO BE AN IMPORTANT DECADE. HE SAID THAT THE UNITED NATIONS' ACTION PLAN CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION IS EXPECTED TO BE ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY EARLY NEXT YEAR.
/+IN HUNG KUNG,