WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1986
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CALL TO REINFORCE SERVICES FOR ELDERLY
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THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REINFORCE ITS PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, WHO HAD IN THEIR DAYS MADE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO HONG KONG, THE HON PAULINE NG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON CARE AND SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, SHE SAID THAT FIRST OF ALL THE AUTHORITIES SHOULD FOLLOW THE LEAD OF WESTERN COUNTRIES BY INTRODUCING CONCESSIONARY SCHEMES FOR THE ELDERLY BECAUSE THEIR INCOME WOULD DIMINISH AFTER RETIREMENT.
MRS NG NOTED THAT IN MANY DISTRICTS IN HONG KONG, THERE WERE ALREADY A NUMBER OF SERVICES AND SCHEMES OFFERING A VARIETY OF BENEFITS TO THE ELDERLY INCLUDING FREE MEDICAL CHECK-UPS, CONCESSIONARY FARES ON PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AND MAXICABS AND DISCOUNTS AT LOCAL SHOPS.
HOWEVER, SHE SAID, MOST SCHEMES WERE LAUNCHED BY THE DISTRICT BOARDS WITH THE SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION OF LOCAL RESIDENTS, WHICH NOT ONLY INVOLVED CONSIDERABLE COST IN TERMS OF MANPOWER AND RESOURCES TO INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT BOARDS BUT ALSO REDUCED EFFICIENCY.
SHE THEREFORE SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD COORDINATE AND IMPLEMENT SUCH SERVICES AND SCHEMES FOR THE ELDERLY SO AS TO EXTEND THEIR COVERAGE AND INCREASE THEIR EFFICIENCY.
ON THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED +CODE OF PRACTICE FOR PRIVATE HOME FOR THE ELDERLY+, MRS NG SAID IT DID SET OUT A NUMBER OF DETAILED AND CLEAR GUIDELINES.
+PROVIDED THAT OPERATORS OF PRIVATE HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY ARE WILLING TO LEARN FROM OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE, RECOGNISE THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG AND FOLLOW GOOD EXAMPLES OF HOMES RUN BY WELFARE ORGANISATIONS, I BELIEVE THEY TOO CAN PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICE TO OUR OLD PEOPLE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT,+ SHE SAID.
MRS NG ALSO URGED THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE MORE SINGLETON UNITS FOR THE AGED AND THAT THE NUMBER OF BEDS IN OLD PEOPLE'S HOMES AND CARE CENTRES SHOULD ALSO BE INCREASED.
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