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He said the Government had been reminded in recent weeks that the elderly were particularly vulnerable members of the community.
"It is for this reason that we are providing substantial resources to meet their needs," said Mr Tsang.
For example:
This year, the Government has provided $9 billion both on financial assistance and on health and welfare services for the elderly. This represents an increase of 50 per cent in real terms over 1992.
Next year, expenditure on welfare services for the elderly will increase by 17 per cent.
He said the Government was putting these resources to good use:
By the end of next year, the Government will be subventing 16,455 residential care places, more than three times as many as ten years ago.
it will provide an additional 43 social centres for the elderly, six multi- service centres and three day care centres.
it has already provided four elderly health centres and three more will come on stream by 1997.
Mr Tsang said concem expressed over the welfare of elderly persons in the recent cold spell had focused attention on the issue of outreaching to elderly persons living alone.
In emergency situations like this, the Social Welfare Department mobilises a large number of professional staff to reach out e.g. those serving in Family Service Centres.
In normal times, in addition to the two elderly outreach teams in operation, staff of the Home Help service are in regular contact with elderly persons since 80 per cent of their clients are elderly.
Through these home visits, elderly persons with special needs are identified and referred by home helpers to other welfare services as necessary.