FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1993
"IN FACT, ANY ARGUMENTS FOUNDED ON PREJUDICE AND ACCOMPANIED BY THREATS CAN NEVER BE VALID.
**THE HOSTEL PROJECT IN TUNG TAU ESTATE MUST PROCEED AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED," SHE STRESSED.
AS A RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT, MRS WONG CONTINUED, IT MUST TAKE LEAD TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS AND INTERESTS OF THE NEEDY AND STRIVE TO UPHOLD JUSTICE FOR THEM.
THE
"THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT," SHE SAID. "I AM HERE TO RECONFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO THE PROJECT.
"I AM HERE TO SOLICIT YOUR SUPPORT FOR IT."
MRS WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S BASIC PRINCIPLE WAS TO PROVIDE THE SEVERELY HANDICAPPED PERSONS WITH THE SERVICES THEY NEEDED AND AT THE SAME TIME INTEGRATED THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY.
"THIS PRINCIPLE IS ADOPTED INTERNATIONALLY AND HAS BERN PRACTISED IN HONG KONG FOR MANY YEARS, SHE STRESSED.
Η
AND SHE SAID THE
GOVERNMENT MUST ALSO RESPECT COMMUNITY
ASPIRATIONS.
"THE HOSTEL IS REQUIRED TO MEET AN URGENT SOCIAL DEMAND AND HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD AND THE TUNG TAU AREA SHE SAID, ADDING THAT THE MEDIA AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE WERE ALSO BEHIND THE GOVERNMENT.
COMMITTEE,
AND THERE.
MRS WONG TOLD THE PANEL MEMBERS SHE HAD VISITED THE TUNG TAU LAGUNA CITY SITES A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND TALKED TO THE PEOPLE
THEIR SHB
"IT IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR TO ME THAT THE OBJECTION COMES FROM JUST SOME LOCAL AND VOCAL RESIDENTS WHO HAVE REFUSED TO GIVE UP PREJUDICE AGAINST THE SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS, SAID.
WHILE STRESSING THAT THE COMMUNITY MUST STAND FIRM IN THE FACE OF SUCH BLIND OBJECTION, SHE SAID: "WE MUST ALSO CONTINUE OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION DRIVE TO CONVINCE THEM THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR.
MRS WONG NOTED THAT IT HAD BEEN THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHED POLICY TO SET UP REHABILITATION FACILITIES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.
PREVIOUS PROJECTS HAVE PROVEN THAT THIS APPROACH IS SUCCESSFUL AND HAS NOT CAUSED ANY INCONVENIENCE TO RESIDENTS.
OF
MRS WONG EXPLAINED ΤΟ PANEL MEMBERS THAT THE PURPOSE CONSULTATION ON THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND REHABILITATION FACILITIES AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL WAS NOT TO SEEK RESIDENTS' APPROVAL FOR SETTING UP COMMUNITY SERVICES IN THEIR NEIGHBOURHOOD.
/"THROUGH CONSULTATION