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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1988
VOLUNTARY REGISTRATION FOR PRIVATE HOMES FOR ELDERLY
A VOLUNTARY REGISTRATION SCHEME FOR PRIVATE HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY WILL BE INTRODUCED NEXT MONTH (OCTOBER).
ANNOUNCING THE DETAILS TODAY (MONDAY), MR ALFRED CHUI WING-MAN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE (FAMILY WELFARE) SAID: "THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE SCHEME IS TO ASSIST OPERATORS OF PRIVATE HOMES TO COMPLY WITH THE CODE OF PRACTICE FOR PRIVATE HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY AND TO PROVIDE AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD OF SERVICE TO THE ELDERLY RESIDENTS."
THE CODE OF
PRACTICE WAS INTRODUCED IN 1986 TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES TO HELP THE OPERATORS TO MAINTAIN A SATISFACTORY LEVEL OF SERVICE.
"A REVIEW IN LATE 1987 ON THE EXTENT OF COMPLIANCE SHOWED THAT FURTHER EFFORTS WERE NEEDED TO SECURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE IN ORDER TO ENSURE A REASONABLE QUALITY OF CARE AND SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY RESIDENTS IN THESE HOMES," MR CHUI SAID.
SUBSEQUENT TO CONSULTATION WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF PRIVATE HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY AND THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE, IT WAS PROPOSED, AND ENDORSED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THAT A VOLUNTARY REGISTRATION SCHEME BE INTRODUCED.
THE GOVERNMENT THEN ANNOUNCED THAT THE VOLUNTARY REGISTRATION SCHEME WOULD BE LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER 1988 IN PREPARATION FOR LEGISLATIVE CONTROL IN MID-1990,
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THE SCHEME WILL OPERATE UNDER A THREE-TIER REGISTRATION SYSTEM, HAVING REGARD TO PREVAILING STANDARDS OF PRIVATE HOMES ON ONE HAND AND A REASONABLE LEVEL OF SERVICE ON THE OTHER.
UNDER THE SCHEME, PRIVATE HOMES ARE ENCOURAGED TO COME FORWARD VOLUNTARILY ΤΟ APPLY FOR REGISTRATION WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
UPON RECEIPT OF A COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM FROM A PRIVATE HOME, A REGISTRATION OFFICER OF PRIVATE HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY WILL VISIT THE HOME TO CONDUCT AN ASSESSMENT OF ITS STANDARDS.
AFTER THE ASSESSMENT, A 'CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION' WILL BE AWARDED TO THE HOME IF IT IS ABLE TO COMPLY WITH THE STANDARDS OF ANY OF THE THREE CATEGORIES OF REGISTRATION.
PERIODIC VISITS WILL BE PAID TO ALL THE REGISTERED HOMES TO ENSURE THEIR CONTINUED COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGISTRATION STANDARDS.
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