XN000022-1978-01-23 — Page 4

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 1978

AUSTRALIAN SOCIAL SECURITY MINISTER VISITS

REHABILITATION INSTITUTIONS

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THE AUSTRALIAN MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, SENATOR MARGARET GUILFOYLE, NOW IN HONG KONG FOR A FIVE-DAY VISIT, THIS (MONDAY) MORNING TOURED TWO REHABILITATION INSTITUTIONS RUN BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

ACCOMPANIED BY HER HUSBAND, MR. STAN GUILFOYLE AND HER PERSONAL SECRETARY, MISS JAN STEPHEN, THE SENATOR FIRST CALLED AT THE WORLD REHABILITATION FUND DAY CENTRE IN KWUN TONG ROAD.

THE PARTY WAS SHOWN ROUND THE INSTITUTE BY MRS. NANCY TSUI, SUPER INTENDENT OF THE CENTRE.

SENATOR GUILFOYLE WAS IMPRESSED BY THE WIDE RANGE OF FACILITIES AT THE CENTRE, PROVIDING SPECIALISED SERVICES AND VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION FOR THE DISABLED.

THE PARTY THEN WENT TO THE KAI NANG TRAINING CENTRE AT FUK TONG ROAD WHERE MRS. SHIRLEY LAI, THE CENTRE'S SUPER INTENDENT EXPLAINED TO THE VISITORS THE WORK OF THE INSTITUTE. .

THE CENTRE, DIVIDED INTO TWO SECTIONS, RUNS PROGRAMMES AIMED AT DEVELOPING SOCIAL AND VOCATIONAL SKILLS OF THE MENTALLY RETARDED AGED BETWEEN EIGHT AND 25 SO THAT THEY COULD BECOME INDEPENDENT AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

DURING THE TOUR, SENATOR GUILFOYLE MET CHILDREN ATTEND ING VARIOUS CLASSES ON HÁBIT FORMATION, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT, AND ARTS AND CRAFTS,

THE SENATOR SHOWED SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE SKILLS DISPLAYED BY YOUNG PEOPLE IN VOCATIONAL CLASSES SUCH AS WOODWORK, SHOE- MAKING AND TAILORING. SHE ALSO VISITED THE HOSTEL FOR 40 ADULT TRAINEES.