XN000022-1976-12-01 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1976

INCREASING CONCERN FOR THE DISABLED ******

THERE IS AN INCREASING CONCERN IN HONG KONG, BOTH WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND THE GOVERNMENT, TO PROVIDE BETTER VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DISABLED IN ORDER THAT THEY MAY BECOME MORE INDEPENDENT AND MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. LI FOOK-KOW, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR. LI WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE REGIONAL SEMINAR ON VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION OF THE BLIND AND DEAF ATTENDED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM 13 ASIAN COUNTRIES AND HONG KONG.

HE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD, DURING THE LAST YEAR, FOCUSSED GREAT ATTENTION ON THE PLANNING OF EFFECTIVE REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE FUTURE.

TRADITIONALLY, HE SAID, THERE WAS A VERY CLOSE PARTNERSHIP IN HONG KONG BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES, SUCH AS EDUCATION, MEDICAL AND HEALTH AND VARIOUS ASPECTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES INCLUDING TRAINING CENTRES AND SHELTERED WORKSHOPS FOR THE BLIND AND THE DEAF.

MR. LI CONTINUED : +MANY OF THE SERVICES WE OFFER THE DISABLED HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED RELATIVELY RECENTLY.

+FOR EXAMPLE, A NON-MEANS TESTED DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE WAS INTRODUCED IN 1973. IN 1975, A WORKING PARTY TO EXAMINE THE TRANSPORT NEEDS OF THE DISABLED WAS SET UP AND ITS RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOW BEING IMPLEMENTED.+

HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE DELEGATES WOULD BENEFIT BOTH FROM THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS IN THE SEMINAR AND FROM THE LECTURES BY THE VARIOUS EXPERTS.

+1 AM CONFIDENT THAT THE CONTRIBUTION YOU WILL MAKE HERE WILL ENRICH OUR IDEAS AND ENABLE US TO IMPROVE OUR SERVICES FOR THE BLIND AND THE DEAF IN PARTICULAR, HE STRESSED.

THE 17-DAY REGIONAL SEMINAR HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO) AND THE DANISH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (DANIDA).

THE 13 ASIAN COUNTRIES TAKING PART ARE AFGHANISTAN, BANGLADESH, BRUNEI

BRUNEI, BURMA, FIJI, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, NEPAL, PAKISTAN, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, SINGAPORE, SOLOMON ISLANDS AND SRI LANKA.

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