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We are spending $7.4 billion in 1995/96 on rehabilitation services, representing an increase of 18% over last year. We have further secured $596 million to improve rehabilitation services between 1995 and 1998 in line with the provisions of the White Paper. The services involved cover social, vocational, and medical rehabilitation, special education, transport and public education. Certain policy decisions in this White Paper can be implemented through better co-ordination among service providers or by re-targeting existing resources, without incurring additional expenditure. As regards those improvement measures where funds have not yet been secured, for example, the projected requirements for social rehabilitation services arising from the adoption of a new demand formula, we will bid for the necessary funds in the annual Resource Allocation Exercise and implement them as resources permit.
The significant progress which has been made since the publication of the Green Paper and the successful completion of the White Paper are due largely to the tireless efforts of a wide range of people dedicated to the goal of integrating people with a disability into our community. I would like to take this opportunity to record today my sincere gratitude to the Working Party on Rehabilitation Policies and Services and its three sub-committees for their hard work, the Rehabilitation Development Co-ordinating Committee for its invaluable guidance and the Governor for his personal support for rehabilitation services.
We have set out clearly our way forward in the White Paper for the future development of rehabilitation services. I am confident that with the support of the community at large and the firm partnership between the non-governmental sector and the Government, we will achieve the goals of full participation and equal opportunities. We shall work together with people with a disability to build a better tomorrow for all.
End/Wednesday, June 7, 1995