29.
"We have doubled the number of these teams over the past six years. Next year, we will increase the total number to 126 teams enabling us to serve about 12,000 elderly people," said Mr Tsang.
He said volunteers were also used to reach out to elderly persons at risk through experimental programmes for older volunteers and other volunteer workers.
"This month, on a pilot basis, we will establish a multi-disciplinary team to provide intensive outreach services to elderly street sleepers," he said.
"As a new initiative, we will provide financial support for selected multi- service centres for the elderly to organise new services to reach out to elderly people at risk."
The Director of Social Welfare is now examining how best to take this forward through voluntary agencies who will be encouraged to make full use of volunteers to supplement the efforts of professional social workers.
As a direct result of the experience of the recent cold spell, the Director of Social Welfare is looking at ways to speed up the provision of special grants for such items as telephones for elderly CSSA recipients.
"In addition, we shall provide the resources needed to improve the facilities at temporary shelters operated by the Home Affairs Department," said Mr Tsang.
The Financial Secretary said the Government's programmes had been guided by a clear-sighted strategy. This is based on the landmark report in 1994 by the Working Group on Care for the Elderly chaired by the Secretary for Health and Welfare.
The Working Group made a total of 71 recommendations.
"We have funded, and we are implementing, every single one of these recommendations. But we cannot afford to stand still when it comes to taking care of the elderly members of our community. Next month, we will launch an important follow-up study into the needs of the elderly," said the Financial Secretary.
After the review of the Government's initiatives on unemployment, support for those with low incomes and help for the elderly, Mr Tsang summarised the Government's plans for expanding other social service programmes in the current year: