SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1982
1
REHABILITATION OF THE DISABLED STRESSED
*****
THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR ERIC HO, SAID TODAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD KEEP UP ITS EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS IN THE REHABILITATION OF THE DISABLED AND IN THE IR INTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE MENTAL HEALTH WEEK 1982, MR HO SAID: THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS IS NOW OFFICIALLY OVER. DURING THE YEAR, HONG KONG DEVOTED MUCH ENERGY TO BRINGING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC THE PROBLEMS OF DISABLED PEOPLE.+
HE SAID THAT WHILE THE EXACT EFFECTS OF THE NUMEROUS IMAGINATIVE AND INTENSIVE CAMPAIGNS ORGANISED HAD YET TO BE MEASURED, TWO IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS HAD BECOME APPARENT.
+THE FIRST IS THAT DISABLED PEOPLE THEMSELVES ARE NOW MORE WILLING THAN EVER TO USE THEIR ABILITIES IN VOICING THEIR OWN INTERESTS AND REQUIREMENTS CONSTRUCTIVELY AND INTELLIGENTLY, THE SECOND IS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS, WITH ALL ITS CAMPAIGNS AND FESTIVITIES, ONLY MARKED THE BEGINNING OF A MUCH MORE LONG-TERM AND ONEROUS TASK OF PUBLIC EDUCATION ABOUT DISABILITY, HE EXPLAINED.
+I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL KEEP UP THIS EDUCATIONAL EFFORT. IN THIS WAY, WE EXPECT TO CONTINUE THE MESSAGE THAT DISABLED PEOPLE HAVE MORE ABILITIES THAN DISABILITIES, THAT THEY ARE ONE OF US', A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR SHARE TO SOCIETY AND DRAW THEIR REWARDS FROM IT, HE STRESSED.
MR HO SAID THAT IN A SOCIETY AS COMPACT AND COMPETITIVE AS HONG KONG, THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING GOOD MENTAL HEALTH COULD NOT BE OVEREMPHASISED.
+IN THIS CONNECTION, I SHOULD LIKE TO REMIND THIS DISTINGUISHED AUDIENCE THAT A STUDY CONDUCTED IN 1974 FOUND THAT SOME 3.8 PER CENT OF THE SAMPLE OF 3 983 PERSONS COVERED OR ABOUT FOUR IN EVERY 100 OF US ARE LIKELY TO BE SUFFERING FROM SOME FORM OF PSYCHIATRIC IMPAIRMENT. THIS MEANS THAT AN ESTIMATED 200 000 OF OUR PEOPLE ARE PSYCHIATRICALLY IMPAIRED TO SOME DEGREE- AND THEY FORM THE LARGEST SINGLE DISABILITY GROUP, REPRESENTING SOME 43 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL ESTIMATED DISABLED POPULATION, HE NOTED.
*WITH THE GREATER DEVELOPMENT AND URBANISATION WHICH HAS TAKEN PLACE AND WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE PLACE BECAUSE OF OUR INCREASING POPULATION, THIS INCIDENCE OF METAL ILLNESS IS UNLIKELY TO DECREASE.+