XN000022-1976-03-24 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1976

- 5 ·

MORE MEANINGFUL LIFE FOR THE DISABLED

*****

THE HON. ROGER LOBO TODAY CALLED ON EMPLOYERS TO SET ASIDE A SMALL QUOTA IN THEIR WORKFORCE FOR THE LESS DISABLED WHO FALL OUTSIDE THE DISABILITY SCHEME, SO THAT THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE COULD +HELP SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND BRING MORE MEANING INTO THEIR LIVES.+

SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID HE SHOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME PROGRAMME DEVISED IN THIS DIRECTION.

THIS WOULD INVOLVE SOME EXTRA COST TO EMPLOYERS IN ADAPTING THEIR FACILITIES TO THE NEEDS OF THE DISABLED, MR. LOBO SAID. BUT, IN RETURN FOR A QUOTA, IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE FOR SOME TAX CONCESSION TO BE LINKED TO THE NUMBER OF DISABLED PEOPLE EMPLOYED.

+THERE WOULD, OF COURSE, BE A SAVING TO GOVERNMENT TO THE EXTENT THAT NEWLY EMPLOYED DISABLED PEOPLE WOULD FLOAT OFF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASELOAD BECAUSE OF THEIR EARNINGS AND THIS COULD HELP TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF TAX REVENUE, HE ADDED.

MR. LOBO REITERATED A SUGGESTION ON SOCIAL WELFARE WHICH HE MADE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST YEAR THAT WHERE POSSIBLE, WELFARE ORGANISATIONS SHOULD BE MERGED WITH THE VIEW TO RAISING STANDARDS AND, AT THE SAME TIME, REDUCING COSTS.

HE STRESSED THAT NO DOUBT THERE WAS MUCH OVER-LAPPING AND DUPLICATION OF EFFORT BY AGENCIES, AND EVALUATION WORK WAS THEREFORE IMPERATIVE.

ON TOURISM, MR. LOBO EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMON COURTESY TO BE DISPLAYED BY ALL THOSE HAVING DEALINGS WITH TOURISTS.

HE WAS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL OF THE ATTITUDE AND MANNER OF SOME SHOPKEEPERS AND TAXI DRIVERS TOWARDS TOURISTS AS WELL AS LOCAL RESIDENTS.

PEOPLE WORKING BEHIND THE PORT HEALTH AND IMMIGRATION COUNTERS AT THE AIRPORT SHOULD ALSO BE COURTEOUS.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS WERE IMPORTANT, HE SAID. AN OCCASIONAL SMILE AND A CHEERFUL WORD OF WELCOME OR GREETING FROM THOSE BEHIND THESE COUNTERS COULD MAKE A VISITOR'S STAY +JUST, THAT LITLE BIT MORE PLEASANT FROM THE VERY START.+

MR. LOBO SAID