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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1992
ALL ANXIETY ABOUT FUNDING,
то REMOVE
MR PATTEN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PUT BEFORE THE LEGCO SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SECURE FUNDING OF A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE GOVERNMENT'S WELFARE SERVICES BETWEEN NOW AND 1997.
THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MAKE AN IMMEDIATE CAPITAL INJECTION INTO THE LOTTERIES FUND OF $2.3 BILLION, HE SAID.
HONG KONG IS A THRIVING TERRITORY. THAT IS WHAT HARD WORK HAS ACHIEVED. BUT IT IS NOT WITHOUT ITS DARKER SIDE.
"EVEN IN THE MIDST OF PROSPERITY, SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY SUFFER FROM POVERTY AND DEPRIVATION," HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WAS OUR DUTY TO USE A PROPER SHARE OF THE WEALTH WE GENERATED TO ENSURE THAT THEY WERE NOT FORGOTTEN, AND HAD THE EDUCATION, THE SKILLS AND THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEEDED TO COPE WITH CHANGE.
HONG KONG IS NOT A WELFARE STATE, BUT WE ARE A SOCIETY THAT CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THE STATE OF WELFARE.
HE SAID WELFARE SERVICES MUST BE MORE THAN JUST A SAFETY NET THAT ALLOWED THE FORTUNATE MAJORITY TO ENJOY ITS PROSPERITY WITH AN EASY CONSCIENCE.
HE SAID HONG KONG COULD TAKE PRIDE IN THE WAY IT HAD IMPROVED ITS WELFARE SERVICES IN BOTH SCOPE AND QUALITY OVER THE LAST DECADE.
BUT MUCH REMAINED TO BE DONE TO HONOUR OUR OBLIGATIONS TO THE DEPRIVED AND THE DISABLED.
ON
THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME, THE GOVERNOR CONFIRMED THAT THE NECESSARY FUNDS WOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO MEET THE KEY TARGETS SET OUT IN THE GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION.
HE SAID AN ADDITIONAL 3,930 RESIDENTIAL PLACES WOULD BE PROVIDED FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED AND THOSE WHO HAD SUFFERED FROM MENTAL ILLNESS.
MR PATTEN SAID THIS WAS AN INCREASE OF JUST OVER 100%. AS A RESULT, THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH RESIDENTIAL PLACES FOR ALL WHO NEEDED THEM BY 1997.
HE SAID THE DEMAND FOR DAY SERVICES FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED WOULD ALSO BE MET IN FULL.
PLACES
THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED WOULD HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 2,110 IN SHELTERED WORKSHOPS AND AN EXTRA 1,650 PLACES IN DAY ACTIVITY CENTRES, HE SAID.
WITH THIS EXPANSION, THERE SHOULD NO LONGER BE ANY NEED, OR ANY EXCUSE, FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED TO BE LEFT TO LANGUISH AT HOME,
ON SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, MR PATTEN SAID THE GOVERNMENT MUST ALSO END THE UNCERTAINTY ABOUT ITS COMMITMENT TO THE GOALS SET BY LAST YEAR'S WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE.
/HE SAID
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