WEDNESDANY, NOVEMBER 30, 1988
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FULL EFFORTS DEVOTED TO ELDERLY SERVICES
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DEVELOPING VARIOUS SERVICES
BE
THE GOVERNMENT IS ENERGETICALLY FOR THE ELDERLY AND THE DEFICIENCIES IN SERVICES ARE EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY ELIMINATED WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SHE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A FUNC CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY WITH THE ELDERLY HELD AT THU TIN TOWN HALL.
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THE FUNCTION, COMPRISING A VARIETY SHOW AND A DINNER RECEPTION, WAS ORGANISED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO SHARE JOY WITH 1,400 SENIOR CITIZENS IN CELEBRATING THE DEPARTMENT'S
ANNIVERSARY.
OVER
30TH
IT WAS SPONSORED BY THE HEART-TO-HEART FUND AND THE KWAN CHARITABLE FUND.
FONG
MRS WONG NOTED THAT IN 1958 WHEN THE DEPARTMENT WAS FIRST SET UP,
ELDERLY PEOPLE OVER 60 ONLY ACCOUNTED FOR SOME FOUR PER CENT OF THE POPULATION WHILE SERVICES FOR THEM WERE MAINLY CONFINED TO EMERGENCY RELIEF AND RESIDENTIAL CARE.
SINCE THEN, SHE SAID, THE ELDERLY POPULATION HAD REEN INCREASING AND A WORKING GROUP WAS FORMED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN 1972 TO STUDY THE SITUATION.
"THEN IN 1977, A GREEN PAPER ON WELFARE FOR THE ELDERLY WAS PUBLISHED, SETTING OUT A PACKAGE OF LONG-TERM POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES FOR A COMPREHENSIVE ELDERLY SERVICE.
"NOW THE ELDERLY ACCOUNT FOR 12.2 PER CENT OF THE AND THERE HAVE BEEN EXPANSION AND ENHANCEMent, BOTH IN QUANTITY AND QUALITY, IN ELDERLY SERVICE," SHE ADDED.
POPULATION TERMS OF
"FOR FINANCIAL HELP, THERE ARE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, OLD AGE ALLOWANCE AND HIGHER DISABILITY ALLOWANCE.
"IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT ALSO CO-OPERATES WITH VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN PROVIDING A SERIES OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND RESIDENTIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING SOCIAL CENTRES; HOME HELP; DAY CARE CENTRES; HOSTELS; SHELTERED HOUSING; HOMES FOR THE AGED AND CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES, SHE SAID.
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MRS WONG THANKED THE HEART-TO-HEART FUND, THE KWAN FUNG CHARITABLE FUND AND THE PARTICIPATING ARTISTES FOR THEIR HELP ! PROMOTING THE SPIRIT OF CARE AND CONCERN FOR THE ELDERLY.
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