XN000022-1977-02-16 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1977

MANY, IF NOT ALL, SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES WERE LACKING IN THE PROVISIONS AND PROJECTIONS OF FUTURE NEEDS, HE SAID.

+ IF PROJECTION OF NEEDS IS PROPERLY DONE, THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE REQUIRED SHOULD DEFINITELY BE MORE THAN IS FORECAST BY THE PAPER, HE STRESSED, ADDING THAT THE OVERALL BUDGET SHOULD BE REVISED ACCORDINGLY.

DR. FANG NOTED THAT SERVICES FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED WAS SPARSELY PROVIDED IN THE GREEN PAPER BECAUSE TWO STATISTICAL STANDARDS WERE USED IN THE ESTIMATIONS, OWING TO LACK OF ACCURATE STATISTICS.

HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE SOME SENIOR FORM PLACES IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS AND SPECIAL CLASSES FOR THOSE CAPABLE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AFTER THE IR NINE-YEAR SCHOOLING.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE TRAINING OF THE DISABLED FOR EMPLOYMENT SHOULD BE WELL PLANNED AND CLOSELY GEARED TO INDUSTRIAL REQUIREMENTS. THIS WOULD MEAN SECURING THE EXPERT ADVICE OF THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING COUNCIL TO IMPROVE THE PRESENT STANDARDS AND HAVING AN OVERALL STRATEGY OF OPENING MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION, THE HON. ALEX WU BELIEVED THAT FOR SUCH TRAINING TO BE EFFECTIVE, INDUSTRY MUST BE GIVEN A GREATER VOICE IN THE PLANNING OF THE APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM.

THIS COULD BE BEST ACHIEVED, HE CONTINUED, THROUGH THE COMMITTEE ON VOCATIONAL TRAINING OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL AND THE TWO TRAINING CENTRES OF BOTH THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AUTHORITY AND THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY AUTHORITY IN COORDINATING TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OF THE DISABLED WITH SPECIAL REHABILITATION CENTRES.

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AS AN INCENTIVE FOR THOSE WHO EMPLOY THE DISABLED, MR. WU PROPOSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER SOME FORM OF TAX RELIEF OR SUBSIDY, IN ADDITION TO TAKING THE LEAD ITSELF.

HE ALSO AGREED THAT POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL SERVICES SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR THE DISABLED.

ON FAMILY COUNSELLING, HE FELT THAT FAMILIES MUST BE MADE AWARE OF THE REHABILITATION SERVICES WHICH WERE AND WOULD BE AVAILABLE AND LEARN HOW, WITH PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE, THEY COULD LESSEN THEIR OWN BURDENS AND ADVANCE THE PROCESS OF REHABILITATION.

+EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS THE FACT THAT WE MUST ENSURE THAT WHEN REHABILITATION INVOLVES TREATMENT OR CARE OUTSIDE THE HOME, SUCH TREATMENT DOES NOT LEAD TO ANY BREAK IN FAMILY TIES.+

IN MR. WU'S VIEW, THE GREEN PAPER WAS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE WAY IN WHICH THE IDEA OF PARTICIPATION IN THE PLANNING OF PUBLIC POLICY COULD TAKE ON REAL MEANING, + IT IS A DOCUMENT WHICH PROVIDES CONCRETE PROOF THAT WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT CARES,+ HE OBSERVED.

/TO THE

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