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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1989
THAT
FON THE
THE MAIN PROBLEM PACING MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS WAS AS THEY GREW OLDER, THEY NEEDED TO BE GIVEN SHELTER AND WORK REST OF THEIR ADULT YEARS, MRS GOODSTADT SAID.
HOMES AND HOSTELS,
"WE NOW NEED TO THINK OF MORE PERMANENT POSSIBLY DESIGNED ON A MUCH SMALLER AND MORE PRIVATE MODEL, SHE POINTED OUT.
MRS GOODSTADT SAID THAT THE GOAL MUST BE TO CREATE HOMES FOR THE ADULT MENTALLY DISABLED "AS CLOSE TO A NATURAL, FAMILY AS POSSIBLE".
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR ALSO CALLED FOR AN URGENT EFFORT TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH INFORMATION "ON THE WONDERFUL QUALITIES WHICH THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED POSSESS".
THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY WAS BASICALLY COMPASSIONATE, SHE SAID.
WARM-HEARTED
AND
THE DEPARTMENT HAD FOUND THAT "MANY GROUPS, ONCE THEY COME ΤΟ UNDERSTAND THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, ARE VERY HAPPY TO HELP THEM".
MRS GOODSTADT ALSO STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF DOING FAR MORE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE EMPLOYMENT AND DAY ACTIVITIES FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS ONCE THEY HAD REACHED ADULTHOOD.
..
"WORK IS NOT PURELY A MATTER OF ECONOMIC RETURN. SHE SAID. IT IS THE MOST NATURAL WAY FOR AN ADULT TO LEAD A REGULAR AND SATISFYING LIFE. WITH A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND ACHIEVEMENT".
MRS GOODSTADT PRAISED THE KOWLOON UNION CHURCH'S EFFORTS IN THIS FIELD,
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WAS GRATEFUL TO THIE CHURCH FOR BEING AMONG THE FIRST TO START WORK WITH MENTALLY HANDICAPTEN ADULTS.
THE NEW HOSTEL. AND SHELTERED WORKSHOP, CREATED BY THE UNION CHURCH WAS ANOTHER MILESTONE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF FACILITIES FOR MENTALLY DISABLED PERSONS. SHE ADDED.
KOWLOON ADEQUATE
DISABLED PERSONS NEED COMMUNITY SUPPORT
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IN THE PROCESS OF REHABILITATION, THE DISABLED NEED SUPPORT FROM THF COMMUNITY, AND A POSITIVE ATTITUDE FROM THE PUBLIC WOULD HELP THEM BUILD UP CONFIDENCE TO OVERCOME THEIR DISABILITIES. THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR KWOK KA-CHI, SAID TODAY USATURDAYE.
SPEAKING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY AND VARIETY SHOW OF THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT JOINT PROGRAMME HELD IN SUPPORT OF THE TERRITORY-WIDE "IN TOUCH WITH REHARTLITATION" CAMPAIGN MR KWOK SAID
T
HONG KONG HAD DEVELOPED A WIDE RANGE OF REHABILITATION SERVICES TO SUIT THE NEEDS OF DISABLED PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS.
/"FOR INSTANCE