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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1993
"I WOULD LIKE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THEM AND TO THEIR ADVOCATES WHO HAVE ACTED WITH DIGNITY AND RESTRAINT IN THE FACE OF SUCH DISCRIMINATION.
FOR
"
MRS WONG RECALLED THAT THERE HAD BEEN CALLS EARLIER THIS YEAR THE ENACTMENT OF ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
THE RECENT INCIDENT IN WHICH A PARENTS RESOURCE CENTRE IN TUNG TAU ESTATE WAS VANDALISED IS CLEARLY UNACCEPTABLE AND CALLS FOR A RETHINK ON THE WAY FOWARD.
SHE NOTED THAT THE MOST PRESSING PROBLEM THE GOVERNMENT WAS FACING WAS DIRECT DISCRIMINATION IN THE FORM OF OVERT PREJUDICE, WHICH IN SOME CASES HAD TAKEN THE FORM OF PHYSICAL HARASSMENT.
"TO TACKLE THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM, I HOPE TO AIM AT EARLY NEXT YEAR FOR A DECISION TO BE REACHED ON ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION AND THE SCOPE IT SHOULD TAKE то BEST SUIT LOCAL NEEDS AND CIRCUMSTANCES, MRS WONG SAID.
SHE CALLED FOR THE FIRM SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC AT LARGE TO ELIMINATE EFFECTIVELY DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
ON PUBLIC EDUCATION ON REHABILITATION, MRS WONG NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SPEND $31 MILLION BETWEEN NOW AND 1996/97.
THE PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, WHICH WILL FOCUS ON THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF EX-MENTALLY ILL AND MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS, ARE TARGETED AT DISTRICT RESIDENTS.
THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EDUCATION IN REHABILITATION HAS PUT IN PLACE A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THE PROGRESS EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE ACTIVITIES.
ALSO AND
IN ADDITION, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS OVER THE YEARS ATTACHED IMPORTANCE TO IMBUING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH PROPER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
TOPICS RELATING TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE EXISTING CURRICULUM AT BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LEVELS.
THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO INTRODUCE A NEW SUBJECT, "GENERAL STUDIES", IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN SEPTEMBER 1996 COVERING SUCH TOPICS AS THE NATURE, NEEDS, RIGHTS AND POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AS A MORE IMMEDIATE MEASURE, A NEW EDUCATION TELEVISION SPECIAL PROGRAMME PROMOTING THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE DISABLED IS BEING PREPARED FOR TRANSMISSION IN NEXT MARCH.
יד
SCHOOLS ARE FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO ORGANISE VARIOUS EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING THE SISTER SCHOOLS SCHEME AND COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB, TO ENHANCE STUDENTS' UNDERSTANDING ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
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