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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976

COMMENTING, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER WAS THE FIRST ATTEMPT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW THE DEMAND, SUPPLY AND SHORTFALL OF SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED.

THE GOVERNMENT IS GRATEFUL FOR THE ADVICE GIVEN TO THE WORKING GROUP BY THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE, WHICH WAS CONSULTED DURING THE PREPARATION OF THE PROGRAMME PLAN, HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT IN ITS PROGRAMME PLAN, THE WORKING GROUP HAD ALSO MADE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW FUTURE POLICIES AND SERVICES SHOULD BE CO-ORDINATED.

HE SAID: +THIS IS AN IMPORTANT AREA SINCE THREE MAJOR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND A LARGE NUMBER OF DEDICATED VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS ARE INVOLVED IN PROVIDING SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED.

+THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR IN PARTICULAR HAS PLAYED A MAJOR AND PIONEERING ROLE IN THE REHABILITATION OF THE DISABLED IN HONG KONG AND THE GOVERNMENT LOOKS FORWARD TO ITS CONTINUED CONTRIBUTION IN THIS IMPORTANT FIELD.+

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE GREEN PAPER WAS PUBLISHED IN ORDER THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC MAY BE AWARE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND MAY EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE CONCLUSIONS REACHED.

+THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT MAKE A FINAL DECISION ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING GROUP UNTIL IT HAS CONSIDERED THE REACTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL BODIES INTERESTED IN REHABILITATION SERVICES,+ HE SAID.

+THE GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED, HOWEVER, THAT THE PRESENT SERVICES CAN BE IMPROVED AND THAT FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE DISABLED. IT MUST NOW DETERMINE THE EXTENT AND SPEED OF SUCH EXPANSION TAKING

INTO ACCOUNT PUBLIC COMMENTS AND COMPETING CLAIMS ON THE SCARCE RESOURCES OF QUALIFIED STAFF, MONEY AND LAND.+

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO COMMENT ARE ASKED TO DO SO BEFORE THE END OF DECEMBER 1976 TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO REACH AN EARLY CONCLUSION SO THAT A DEFINITIVE PROGRAMME CAN BE DRAWN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE DISABLED BOTH IN THE SHORT TERM AND IN THE LONG TERM.

COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 7TH FLOOR, MAIN WING, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.

COPIES OF THE GREEN PAPER IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE ARE OBTAINABLE FREE FROM THE MARKETING OFFICE, GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL. THEY ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE VARIOUS CITY DISTRICT OFFICES ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND IN KOWLOON, AND AT THE DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

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