XN000022-1972-10-09 — Page 6

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Monday, October 9, 1972

MRS. ROWE VISITS ARERDEEN REHABILITATION CENTRE

Mrs. G.T. Rowe, wife of the Director of Social Welfare, continuing

her visits to welfare agencies, spent more than an hour this morning visiting

the Aberdeen Rehabilitation Centre in Wong Chuk Hang.

She was again accompanied by Mrs. Evelyn Doe, Principal Social

Welfare Officer, West Kowloon District Office. They were shown around the

centre by the Superintendent, Mr. Ku Choon-keong.

The centre is a government institution run by the Social Welfare

Department and supported out of puolic funds.

It has a total area of about 188,000 sq. feet, located in a rural

setting, and is the first government rehabilitation centre to provide

various facilities for the disabled. It was completed in 1964.

Its main purpose is to make possible social and vocational

rehabilitation, with particular emphasis on vocational training. Efforts

are made to adjust the residents to their disability and to encourage them

to pass on from the role of dependent individuals to that of independent

productive workers.

The Centre consists of 11 blocks of two to three-storey concrete

buildings, five of which are used as dormitories, two as staff quarters, two

for training, one for administration offices and a clinic and one for the

kitchen and dining hall.

The maximum capacity is 410, with the orthopaedically-disabled

comprising the largest group.

The other