FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 1985
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CHARITY WALKS RAISE FUNDS FOR ELDERLY
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THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S +CHARITY WALKS FOR THE ELDERLY+ ORGANISED LAST NOVEMBER BROUGHT IN SOME $800 000 FOR PURCHASE OF A WIDE VARIETY OF EQUIPMENT FOR OLD PEOPLE.
THE EQUIPMENT, RANGING FROM WASHING MACHINES TO BLOOD PRESSURE MEASURING APPARATUS, WILL BENEFIT SENIOR CITIZENS NOW IN THE CARE OF ABOUT 100 HOSTELS AND SOCIAL CENTRES RUN BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.
AT A CEREMONY AT LUNG HANG ESTATE COMMUNITY HALL TODAY, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, MR FRED PANG, OFFICIALLY HANDED OVER SOME OF THE ITEMS TO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE RECIPIENT AGENCIES.
ADDRESSING THE CEREMONY, MR PANG UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF CARE AND RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY AND SAID THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S POLICIES CATERED FOR PUBLIC HOUSING FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.
+WORTHY OF SPECIAL MENTION IS THE SPECIAL QUOTA UNDER THE ELDERLY PRIORITY SCHEME WHERE RELATED OR UNRELATED PERSONS OVER THE AGE OF 60 CAN PAIR UP TO OBTAIN A FLAT.
+ THE AVERAGE WAITING TIME IS TWO YEARS AND TO DATE OVER
2 300 PERSONS HAVE SO QUALIFIED.
+APART FROM THIS, IN COLLABORATION WITH VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, HOSTEL ACCOMMODATION AND RELATED SERVICES HAVE LONG SINCE BEEN PROVIDED.+
MR PANG WARMLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE +SPONTANEOUS AND OVERWHELMING+ COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE CHARITY WALKS ORGANISED ON SEVEN ESTATES AS PART OF LAST YEAR'S HOUSING FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS.
+ THE RESULT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF - IN OUR JOINT EFFORTS WE. SUCCEEDED IN RAISING MORE THAN $800 000.
+THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT THOUGHT THAT THE BEST WAY OF SPENDING THE MONEY WAS TO ASK WHAT THE ELDERLY PEOPLE, THEMSELVES, WHAT THEY REQUIRED. WE THEREFORE APPROACHED OVER 100 CENTRES AND HOSTELS.
+THE RESULT: A LONG AND VARIED LIST INCLUDING FURNITURE SEWING MACHINES, VACUUM CLEANERS, TV SETS, ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS, DEHUMIDIFIERS, WASHING MACHINES, SPOT-LIGHTS, SLIDE PROJECTORS, PHYSICAL EXERCISE EQUIPMENT, AND EVEN BLOOD PRESSURE MEASURING APPARATUS. SOME OF THE ITEMS BOUGHT ARE ON DISPLAY HERE.
+ I AM CONFIDENT THAT THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF THE WALKS WILL AGREE THAT THE MONEY HAS BEEN WELL SPENT ON THESE ITEMS TO PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT, EXERCISE AND ENJOYMENT FOR THE ELDERLY.+
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