WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1993
HERE, I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THAT WHILST IT IS IMPORTANT ΤΟ RECOGNIZE RESIDENTS' SENSITIVITIES TOWARDS CERTAIN REHABILITATION PROJECTS, IT WOULD BE IMPROPER TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN SERVICES. SO WOULD SUPPORT SEGREGATION, RATHER THAN INTEGRATION.
TO DO
CONSULTATION
LET US NOW TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE WAY IN WHICH REHABILITATION SERVICES ARE PLANNED AND IMPLEMENTED.
THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE (RDCC) WHICH COMPRISES REPRESENTATIVES FROM RELATED GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS IS THE GOVERNMENT'S PRINCIPAL ADVISORY BODY ON REHABILITATION MATTERS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACTIVITY CENTRES FOR DISCHARGED MENTAL PATIENTS AND THE REQUIREMENT FOR FOUR SUCH CENTRES IN THE TERRITORY WAS RECOMMENDED BY RDCC WAY BACK IN 1987. FURTHERMORE, AFTER A SITE FOR THE FACILITY IS IDENTIFIED, IT IS OUR WELL-ESTABLISHED PRACTICE TO CONSULT RELEVANT BOARDS AND COMMITTEES AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL.
IN OTHER WORDS, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, LOCAL CONSULTATIVE BODIES, DISTRICT ORGANIZATIONS AND WELFARE AGENCIES ARE ALWAYS INVOLVED IN THE CONSULTATION PROCESS. IT IS OUR
THAT CONVICTION THROUGH EARLY DISCUSSION WITH INTERESTED PARTIES, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PLANNED REHABILITATION PROJECTS CAN BE FACILITATED. BOTH THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY AND RESIDENTS' RIGHT TO KNOW CAN THUS BE SAFEGUARDED. WE SHOULD NEVERTHELESS BE KEEPING AN EVER OPEN MIND ON NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. HONOURABLE MEMBERS HAVE ASKED FOR DIALOGUE WITH CONCERNED RESIDENTS. FOR OUR ᏢᎪᎡᎢ .
TO WE HAVE IN THE PAST AND WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR DOOR OPEN HAVE DIALOGUE WITH CONCERNED RESIDENTS TO FIND WAYS AND MEANS TO ALLAY THEIR FEARS.
PLANNING CRITICISM PATIENTS
REPORT,
WOULD
AS REGARDS CRITICISMS ABOUT MALADMINISTRATION IN THE OF THE ACTIVITY CENTRE PROJECT NEAR LAGUNA CITY AND ALSO ABOUT UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF SERVICES FOR DISCHARGED MENTAL IN KWUN TONG, I WOULD LIKE TO REFER MEMBERS TO THE FINAL RESULTS REPORT COMPILED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS. THIS REPORT FOUND THAT THESE SERVICES ARE FAIRLY, EVENLY DISTRIBUTED ON A DISTRICT BASIS. FURTHERMORE, IN PARAGRAPH 51 OF THE SAME IT IS SAID AND I QUOTE: "I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THE RESIDENTS WITHDRAW THEIR OBJECTIONS TO THE ACTIVITY CENTRE AS THEIR DEFIANT THE WOULD HELP NEITHER THEM NOR THE PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS OF ATTITUDE CENTRE IN ACHIEVING MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT. SINCE THE ACTIVITY CENTRE WILL ONLY ADMIT EX-MENTAL PATIENTS WHO HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY RECOVERED FROM THEIR ILLNESS, THE RESIDENTS MAY EVENTUALLY AGREE THAT THE RISK OF THE PATIENTS RUNNING AMUCK THEREBY THREATENING THEIR SAFETY IS MORE IMAGINARY THAN REAL." FINDINGS THIS REPORT ARE BASED ON AN INDEPENDENT AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION THE COMMISSIONER IN RESPONSE TO A COMPLAINT LODGED BY THE CHAIRMAN THE ESTATE OWNERS' COMMITTEE OF LAGUNA CITY. I HAVE NOTHING TO ADD TO THE REPORT.
OF
BY
OF
/ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION