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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1982
CARE OF ELDERLY ONE OF TOP PRIORITIES: SIR PHILIP
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THE CARE OF THE ELDERLY SHOULD BE ONE OF OUR PRESENT DAY PRIORITIES, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID IN OPENING THE CARITAS BAZAAR TODAY.
SIR PHILIP SAID THAT BECAUSE OF HONG KONG'S RISING STANDARDS IN GENERAL, AND OF HEALTH CARE IN PARTICULAR, LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH IS NOW 72 YEARS FOR A MAN AND 78 YEARS FOR A WOMAN.
+AT PRESENT, TEN PER CENT OF OUR POPULATION OF 5.2 MILLION PEOPLE IS AGED 60 AND ABOVE IN TEN YEARS TIME, THIS IS EXPECTED TO GROW TO NEARLY 13 PER CENT OF THE THEN PROJECTED POPULATION OF 5.9 MILLION PEOPLE, HE SAID.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF SIR PHILIP'S SPEECH:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
MY WIFE AND I ARE DELIGHTED TO BE HERE TODAY AT THIS BAZAAR AND CONGRATULATE THE ORGANISERS FOR THEIR SELFLESS EFFORTS AND DEDICATION.
ON THIS OCCASION I WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE CARE OF THE ELDERLY WHICH I BELIEVE SHOULD BE ONE OF OUR PRESENT DAY PRIORITIES. BECAUSE OF HONG KONG'S RISING STANDARDS IN GENERAL - AND OF HEALTH CARE IN PARTICULAR - LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH IS NOW 72 YEARS FOR A MAN AND 78 YEARS FOR A WOMAN. AT PRESENT, 10 PER CENT OF OUR POPULATION OF 5.2 MILLION PEOPLE IS AGED 60 AND ABOVE IN 10 YEARS TIME, THIS IS EXPECTED TO GROW TO NEARLY 13 PER CENT OF THE THEN PROJECTED POPULATION OF 5.9 MILLION PEOPLE.
THE PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AGING PROCESS ARE COMPLEX AND REQUIRE A RANGE OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND FACILITIES. IN HONG KONG WE HAVE DEVELOPED THESE SERVICES AND FACILITIES ON THE BASIS OF THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE OF +CARE IN THE COMMUNITY+, SO THAT THE ELDERLY MAY REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. THUS SUCH SERVICES AS HOME HELP MEALS SERVICE, COMMUNITY NURSING AND SOCIAL CENTRES AND, OF COURSE, OF IMPROVED CASH BENEFITS, ARE ALL DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO LOOK AFTER THEIR ELDERLY MEMBERS. THESE SERVICES ARE ALSO DESIGNED TO ENABLE THOSE OLD PEOPLE IN GOOD PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. BUT TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS THEY ALSO NEED ACCOMMODATION AND SO THERE ARE SPECIAL ALLOCATIONS OF FLATS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE. THE DECISION TO PURCHASE FLATS IN PRIVATE HOUSING ESTATES TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION FOR 700 ELDERLY PERSONS, RECENTLY ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR, WAS ALSO TAKEN WITH THE PRINCIPLE OF CARE IN THE COMMUNITY+ IN MIND, I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER USE FOR PART OF THE FUNDS IN OUR GOLD COIN ACCOUNT AND I HOPE THAT THESE GOLD COIN HOMES WILL BRING MUCH PEACE AND HAPPINESS TO MANY PEOPLE AND THAT THE SCHEME CAN BE A CONTINUING ONE.
/FOR THOSE