XN000022-1977-07-21 — Page 2

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1977

1

THREE DAY-RESIDENTIAL CENTRES

FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED PLANNED

****

THE GOVERNMENT IS ASSISTING VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO SET UP THREE DAY-CUM-RES IDENTIAL CENTRES TO PROVIDE BASIC CARE AND SIMPLE TRAINING MAINLY FOR THE SEVERELY MENTALLY RETARDED ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, SAID THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.

SPEAKING AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE CITY LIONS CLUB,

MR. LEE NOTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A CHANGE IN THE CONCEPT

THAT THE SEVERELY RETARDED REQUIRE FULL-TIME MEDICAL CARE SUCH AS THOSE PROVIDED IN THE SIU LAM HOSPITAL.

+THE CURRENT VIEW IS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE IN HOSPITALS DO NOT NEED LONG-TERM MEDICAL CARE. APART FROM A SMALL MINORITY WHO NEED MEDICAL TREATMENT AND NURSING CARE, WHAT THE RETARDED NEED IS CARE, EITHER IN A DAY OR RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT, AND TRAINING, WHICH WILL HELP THEM DEVELOP THEIR POTENTIAL ABILITY.+

HE POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS THEREFORE CONSIDERED NOT ESSENTIAL TO CONSTRUCT HOSPITALS OF THE SIU LAM TYPE, BUT INSTEAD A NUMBER OF DAY-CUM-RESIDENTIAL TRAINING CENTRES SHOULD BÉ ESTABLISHED AS NEAR TO CENTRES OF POPULATION AS POSSIBLE.

THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT TWO OF THESE CENTRES PLANNED WOULD CATER FOR 60 TO 90 MENTALLY RETARDED PERSONS AND ONE FOR A SMALLER NUMBER OF YOUNG ADULTS.

HE STRESSED THAT ADMISSION TO THESE CENTRES WOULD NOT BE RESTRICTED TO THE SEVERELY RETARDED AS SOME MODERATELY RETARDED WITH OTHER PROBLEMS WERE ALSO IN NEED OF SUCH SERVICES.

+THESE CENTRES WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH TEACHING AIDS FOR TRAINING OF THE RETARDED. IN THE CASE OF DAY CENTRES, TRANSPORT FACILITIES MAY BE NEEDED TO CONVEY THEM BETWEEN THE CENTRES AND THE IR HOMES.+

MR. LEE SAID THAT VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS UNDERTAKING TO SET UP THESE CENTRES WOULD BE FULLY SUPPORTED BY THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH GRANTS FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND.

+THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS ALSO AGREED TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY ACCOMMODATION IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES. WHEN SUITABLE ACCOMMODATION HAS BEEN FOUND, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THESE CENTRES CAN BE COMPLETED IN A SHORT TIME AS ONLY CONVERSION WORK NEED TO BE DONE,+ HE ADDED.

AT PRESENT, MR. LEE SAID THAT SERVICES FOR THE SEVERELY MENTALLY RETARDED WERE CONSIDERED INADEQUATE.

+ALTHOUGH THE EXACT NUMBER IS NOT KNOWN, A JOINT TEAM WITH STAFF OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD ASSESSED IN 1975 A TOTAL OF 1,386 SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN. IT IS LIKELY THAT THE ACTUAL NUMBER IS MUCH HIGHER, POSSIBLY REACHING 2,000 +

/THE DIRECTOR