WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1986
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COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR ELDERLY ADVOCATED
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THE SETTING UP A COMMITTEE TO COORDINATE AND PLAN SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY WAS ADVOCATED BY THE HON LEE YU-TAI TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON ELDERLY SERVICES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR LEE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF COORDINATING THE PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY WHICH INVOLVED A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING HOUSING, SOCIAL WELFARE, MEDICAL AND HEALTH, EDUCATION AND LABOUR.
HE NOTED THAT GOVERNMENT HAD RECENTLY SET UP A CENTRAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON YOUTH POLICIES, AND QUESTIONED WHY THERE WAS NO SUCH BODY FOR THE ELDERLY.
POINTING OUT THAT ELDERLY PEOPLE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES USUALLY ENJOYED HALF-FARE BENEFITS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT SPENT SOME $200 MILLION EACH YEAR ON THE STUDENT TRAVEL SCHEME, HE SAID ELDERLY PEOPLE HERE ENJOYED NO PRIVILEGED TREATMENT AT ALL EXCEPT FOR SOME MAXICAB SERVICES.
MR LEE SAID HE FELT THAT HOSTEL SERVICE SHOULD BE IMPROVED IN PROPORTION TO POPULATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS HOUSEKEEPING ASSISTANCE AND COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE BE STRENGTHENED.
HE SAID THAT IF MORE HOUSEKEEPING ASSISTANCE OR COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE COULD RENDERED TO OLD PEOPLE MORE FAMILIES WOULD BE WILLING TO LIVE WITH THEIR ELDERS, THUS HELPING TO RELIEVE THE DEMAND FOR HOSTELS.
HE ALSO PROPOSED SETTING UP A CENTRAL EMPLOYMENT REGISTRY FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE LOOKING FOR PART-TIME JOBS AND STRENGTHENING EMPLOYMENT COUNSELLING SERVICES FOR RETIRED PEOPLE.
ON EDUCATION, MR LEE SAID HONG KONG SHOULD FOLLOW THE EXAMPLES OF SOME ADVANCED COUNTRIES IN DEVELOPING ADULT EDUCATION.
THE PROPOSAL TO USE THE TEMPORARY PREMISES OF THE CITY POLYTECHNIC AS A CENTRE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED, HE SAID.
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