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Mr Strachan said these improvements included the upward revision of the planning ratio to one centre for every 2,000 elderly population, improvements in staffing to provide better clerical support and adoption of open membership to enable more of the senior citizens to enjoy the facilities and services of the social centres.
"A range of community support services, such as social centres for the elderly, play an important role in enabling our senior citizens to live happily and in dignity as full participating members of the our society as long as possible," he said.
Mr Strachan said in view of the growing ageing population, the government had, in 1992, pledged to provide 70 more social centres for the elderly by the end of 1997.
"However, we have faced great difficulties in identifying suitable premises for setting up a sufficient number of these centres, especially in old urban areas without public housing estates.
"Fortunately, through a purchase programme jointly undertaken by the Architectural Services Department, Government Property Agency and Social Welfare Department, we have identified 28 sets of private premises in various parts of the territory for setting up social centres for the elderly to make up the shortfall," Mr Strachan said.
He said the Government had now purchased and fitted out six centres in Yau Tsim/Mong Kok District alone and the centre opened today was one of them.
Founded in 1921, Sik Sik Yuen is a well-established non-profit-making charitable organisation providing various services for the sick, the poor, the young and the elderly.
With regards to services for the elderly, it has five residential homes, nine social centres and one multi-service centre.
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Keen support for World Bank/International Monetary Fund meetings
The 1997 World Bank Group/International Monetary Fund annual meetings which will be held in Hong Kong next year has received enthusiastic support from the private sector.
Sponsorships resulting in a savings of more than $70 million have been received so far, with some $40 million in cash and the rest in kind.