MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1992
A GREEN PAPER CONTAINING THE WORKING
PARTY'S
RECOMMENDATIONS
HAS BEEN FORMULATED AND PUBLISHED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION.
MRS WONG NOTED THAT PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE GREEN PAPER HAD BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTIVE AND THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW ASSESSING THE MANY HUNDREDS OF SUBMISSIONS TO MAP OUT THE WAY FORWARD.
BUT SHE BELIEVED THE STRATEGIES FOR NEW POLICIES WOULD INCLUDE:
*
IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF DISABILITIES WITH A VIEW TO PREVENTING IMPAIRMENT AND MINIMISING DISABILITIES;
THE BROADER ENVIRONMENT TO MINIMISE HANDICAPS PERSONS, SO THAT THEY CAN ENJOY THE BENEFITS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES;
TO DISABLED OF SOCIETAL
* POSITIVE PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS DISABLED PERSONS; AND
REMOVAL OF PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL BARRIERS.
ARE
MRS WONG ALSO SPOKE ON LEGISLATIVE MEASURES WHICH CONSIDERED BY MANY AS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF DISABLED PERSONS AND ADVANCE THEIR INTERESTS.
IN HONG KONG, SHE SAID. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LAWS WHICH AIM TO SAFEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF DISABLED PERSONS.
"IN RESPECT OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL DISABILITY, WE HAVE LAWS WHICH STIPULATE SPECIAL PROVISIONS IN LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND PROCEEDINGS, SPECIAL PROTECTION AGAINST ABUSE, AND GUARDIANSHIP CONDITIONS FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES, MRS WONG SAID..
'WE ALSO HAVE LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS IN PLACE ΤΟ REQUIRE DEVELOPERS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE ACCESS FACILITIES FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS IN PUBLIC PLACES.
"OVERALL, OUR LAWS ARE NOT DISCRIMINATORY.
ALTHOUGH THE EXISTING LEGISLATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICES IN HONG KONG ALREADY PROVIDE FOR THE RIGHTS AND PROTECTION OF DISABLED PERSONS IN MANY AREAS, MRS WONG STRESSED THE NEED FOR NEW LEGISLATION TO STATE MORE EXPLICITLY THE RIGHTS OF DISABLED PERSONS.
"THE QUESTION OF SPECIFIC LEGISLATION TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF DISABLED PERSONS IS, THEREFORE, A LIVE ISSUE.
"OUR ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE IS THE REALISATION OF A PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH DISABLED PERSONS ACTUALLY EXERCISE AND ENJOY THEIR RIGHTS, SHE SAID.
ין
"EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND FULL. PARTICIPATION: A BETTER TOMORROW FOR ALL" IS OUR VISION FOR HONG KONG, MRS WONG SAID.
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