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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1983
SIR PHILIP SEES PHAB CENTRE WORK
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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, VISITED THE LADY MACLEHOSE POKFULAM PHAB CENTRE TODAY.
HE WAS WELCOMED BY THE HON PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION, MR LI KWAN HUNG, THE CHAIRMAN, DR RICHARD BUTLER, DIRECTORS, STAFF AND PHAB MEMBERS.
SIR PHILIP WAS SHOWN AROUND THE CENTRE AND WAS INTERESTED IN THE FACILITIES AND PROGRAMMES IT PROVIDES TO INTEGRATE THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED AND THE ABLE BODIED IN THE COMMUNITY.
DR BUTLER SAID THAT THE CENTRE HAD COME INTO BEING WITH THE STAUNCH SUPPORT OF LADY MACLEHOSE, AFTER WHOM THE CENTRE WAS NAMED. IT WAS PURPOSE-BUILT FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED ON LAND GRANTED BY THE GOVERNMENT WITH FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB. FACILITIES INCLUDE A 100-BED DORMITORY, A HALL, A SWIMMING POOL, AN ARCHERY RANGE, A BARBECUE AREA, A PLAY AREA, A DINING HALL AND AN OUTDOOR" BASKETBALL COURT, THE CENTRE WAS OPENED BY LADY MACLEHOSE IN 1979.
SIR PHILIP SAID THAT THE CENTRE EXEMPLIFIED HONG KONG'S CONCERN TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE IN THE COMMUNITY. ITS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WOULD STAND COMPARISON WITH THOSE PROVIDED FOR THE HANDICAPPED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD AND OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED TO PARTICIPATE FREELY IN MANY ACTIVITIES ALONG WITH THEIR ABLE-BODIED COUNTERPARTS.
PHAB OFFICIALS UNDERLINED THE ASSOCIATION'S CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO PROMOTE THE FULLEST POSSIBLE INTEGRATION OF THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED AND THE ABLE-BODIED IN THE COMMUNITY AND DECLARED THEIR APPRECIATION OF THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN THE 1981 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS. THE MOMENTUM BUILT UP THEN WOULD BE CARRIED ON THROUGH THE YEARS AHEAD.
DR BUTLER SAID THAT THE ASSOCIATION WOULD MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF HONG KONG'S DYNAMIC SOCIETY. A NEW CENTRE WOULD BE OPENED IN 1984 IN THE GROWING NEW TOWN OF TUEN MUN WHERE, ACCORDING TO THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF THE DISABLED, A NUMBER OF PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE ALREADY LIVE. SIR PHILIP ASSURED THE ASSOCIATION OF CONTINUED GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR INTEGRATING THE DISABLED IN THE COMMUNITY.
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