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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1986
ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, HE NOTED THAT AT PRESENT ALL RESIDENTS IN HONG KONG AGED 70 OR OVER WERE ENTITLED TO AN OLD AGE ALLOWANCE WHICH WAS NOT MEANS TESTED.
AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO DID NOT HAVE ANY MEANS OF SUPPORT MIGHT APPLY FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, HE ADDED.
HE ALSO ASSURED MEMBERS THAT RATES OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND OLD AGE ALLOWANCE WERE REVISED PERIODICALLY TO PRESERVE THE IR REAL PURCHASING POWER.
AS FOR FORMER HONG KONG RESIDENTS LIVING IN CHINA TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THESE PAYMENTS, MR CHAMBERS SAID THERE WERE CONSIDERABLE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IN ADOPTING THIS SUGGESTION.
MR CHAMBERS NOTED THAT SEVERAL MEMBERS HAD EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND SCHEME.
HE SAID CONSULTATION ON THIS PROPOSAL HAD JUST BEGUN AND IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE TO PRE-EMPT ITS OUTCOME AT THIS STAGE.
+THE DECISION WHETHER TO ESTABLISH A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND WILL OF COURSE INEVITABLY HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR POLICY ON CARE FOR THE ELDERLY, HE ADDED.
ON COMMENTS THAT PRESENT SUPPORT SERVICES WERE INADEQUATE, MR CHAMBERS POINTED OUT THAT EXPANSION PROGRAMMES EXISTED FOR ALL THESE SERVICES AND THE PLANNED PROVISION OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS
INCLUDED 76 SOCIAL CENTRES, 14 DAY-CARE CENTRES, AND 10 MULTI- SERVICE CENTRES. FOR HOME HELP SERVICES THE PLAN WAS TO PROVIDE 10 ADDITIONAL TEAMS EACH YEAR.
+THIS EXPANSION SHOULD BE ABLE TO MEET THE ESTIMATED NEED FOR THE VARIOUS SERVICES ON THE PRESENT PLANNING RATIOS, BUT WE SHALL NEED TO RE-EXAMINE THESE RATIOS FROM TIME TO TIME TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE STILL APPROPRIATE, HE SAID,
MR CHAMBERS SAID PROPOSALS FOR NEW COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES WOULD BE CONSIDERED FURTHER. THESE PROPOSALS INCLUDED AN OUTREACHING SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY, RESPITE SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO LOOKED AFTER ELDERLY PEOPLE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE AND SHELTERED WORKSHOPS FOR THE ELDERLY AS WELL AS PRE-RETIREMENT AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMES.
+TO ENCOURAGE ELDERLY PEOPLE TO LIVE WITH THEIR FAMILIES IT IS THE POLICY OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO GIVE FAMILIES WITH ELDERLY MEMBERS PRIORITY TREATMENT IN APPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING, HE SAID.
/HE ADDED