TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 198
27
SIX WAYS TO MEET TRANSPORT NEEDS OF DISABLED
*****
A WORKING PARTY CHAIRED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR REHABILITATION, MR MARTIN LEWIS, HAS PROPOSED SIX WAYS TO MEET THE TRANSPORT NEEDS OF THE DISABLED.
I MEAN
ANNOUNCING THIS AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON EAST TODAY (TUESDAY), MR LEWIS SAID: +BY DISABLED, NOT JUST THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED, BUT IN THIS CONTEXT, THE BLIND, THE DEAF AND THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.+
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT CENTRE- BASED TRANSPORT SHOULD REMAIN.
MR LEWIS WAS REFERRING TO THE 30-MORE VEHICLES NOW OPERATED BY THE AGENCIES TO CONVEY PEOPLE TO AND FROM THE CENTRES, AND FOR OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE, SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.
THE WORKING PARTY FELT IT WAS RIGHT THAT SUCH CENTRES SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE IR OWN VEHICLES, WHICH PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN A DISABLED PERSON'S INTEGRATION INTO NORMAL LIVING PATTERNS.
THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT A DISABLED PERSON'S TRAVEL SCHEME SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. CONCURRENT WITH AN IMMINENT REVIEW OF THE STUDENTS TRAVEL SCHEME, WHICH OFFERS CONCESSIONS ON MOST FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
J
THIRDLY, THE WORKING PARTY SUGGESTED THAT A SPECIAL TRANSPORT SCHEME SHOULD BE PROVIDED BY VEHICLES CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATING WHEELCHAIRS.
THESE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE A REGULAR SCHEDULE OF OPERATION, IDEALLY ON A DOOR-TO-DOOR BASIS, TO MEET THE TRAINING, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS OF THE DISABLED. SUCH SERVICES SHOULD ALSO BE EXTENDED TO OFF-PEAK HOURS TO FULFIL THE CLIENTS' SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL NEEDS.
+THIS WILL PROBABLY MEAN UPGRADING THE REHABUS SYSTEM, PUTTING IT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, THE POINT BEING THAT AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR THE DISABLED SHOULD FORM PART OF HONG KONG'S OVERALL PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM, + MR LEWIS SAID.
THE FOURTH PROPOSAL WAS THAT A SCHEME SHOULD BE INITIATED TO ENABLE THE WHEELCHAIR BOUND AND THOSE WITH SEVERE WALKING DIFFICULTIES TO TRAVEL MORE INDEPENDENTLY IN TAXIS.
+THIS COULD BE DONE IN THE FORM OF A CASH GRANT, BUT CASH MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY BE SPENT ON TRAVEL, SO A NON-MEANS-TESTED TAXI VOUCHER SCHEME IS FAVOURED, WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO COST ABOUT 3660 000 A YEAR,+ MR LEWIS EXPLAINED.
THERE ARE