THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1986
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+ IN 1984 THE EXPECTATION OF LIFE AT BIRTH REACHED 73.2 YEARS FOR MEN AND THE ASTONISHING FIGURE OF 79 FOR WOMEN, AMONGST THE HIGHEST IN THE WORLD, HE ADDED.
ON THE SOCIAL WELFARE SCENE MR CHAMBERS SAID THERE WERE NO SUCH CLEAR INDICATORS OF THE SUCCESS OR OTHERWISE OF THE SERVICES BECAUSE SOCIAL PROBLEMS WERE NOT SO EASILY SOLVED, AND INCREASING PROSPERITY, WHILE IT SOLVED SOME PROBLEMS, WAS APT TO CAUSE NEW ONES.
+EVEN SUCH A DESIRABLE ACHIEVEMENT AS THE VERY HIGH LIFE EXPECTANCY BRINGS IN ITS WAKE SOME VERY DIFFICULT PROBLEMS IN THE CARE OF THE ELDERLY, WHICH ARE FAST BECOMING OUR MAJOR CONCERN IN THE WELFARE FIELD, HE SAID.
HOWEVER, MR CHAMBERS POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT HONG KONG'S WELFARE SERVICES WERE IN INFINITELY BETTER SHAPE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS OF THE 1980'S AND 90'S THAN THEY WERE TO DEAL WITH THOSE OF THE 1950'S.
+ THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY NET WHICH ENSURES THAT NO FAMILY GOES WITHOUT THE WHEREWITHAL TO BUY THE BASIC NEEDS OF LIFE IN HONG KONG.
+WE ALSO HAVE A HIGHLY TRAINED CORPS OF SOCIAL WORKERS TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE NEEDY AND THOSE WHO FACE DIFFICULT SOCIAL PROBLEMS. THERE ARE A LOT OF EXCELLENT FACILITIES FOR ALL KINDS OF WELFARE SERVICES, AND MANY MORE IN THE PIPELINE, HE SAID.
NOTING THAT HONG KONG WAS NOT A WELFARE STATE IN THE WESTERN SENSE, MR CHAMBERS SAID HE BELIEVED THAT HONG KONG WAS MUCH CLOSER TO IT THAN IT WAS OFTEN GIVEN CREDIT FOR.
+IN BOTH THE HEALTH AND WELFARE FIELDS, THERE IS CLEARLY MUCH TO BE DONE AND WE HAVE AMBITIOUS PLANS TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE SERVICES. BUT IT IS A VERY SALUTARY EXERCISE TO LOOK BACK OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS TO SEE JUST HOW FAR WE HAVE COME,+ MR CHAMBERS SAID.
STEPS TAKEN TO IMPROVE HOUSING FOR ELDERLY
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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO EXPLORE EVERY POSSIBILITY OF IMPROVING RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR THE ELDERLY WHO ARE FRAIL AND IN NEED OF PERSONAL CARE, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE CHING CHUNG CARE AND ATTENTION HOME IN YUEN LONG, SHE SAID THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEASURE IN THE SHORT TERM WAS TO SET UP HOME AND CARE-AND-ATTENTION UNITS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.
/+THIRTEEN FUCH
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