XN000022-1978-02-28 — Page 5

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1978

LADY MACLEHOSE VISITS REHABILITATION CENTRES

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LADY MACLEHOSE SPENT THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON VISITING THE ABERDEEN REHABILITATION CENTRE AND THE KAI CHI CHILDREN'S CENTRE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AT WELFARE ROAD, WONG CHUK HANG.

ON ARRIVAL AT THE ABERDEEN CENTRE, LADY MACLEHOSE WAS MET BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE THE HEAD OF SWD'S REHABILITATION DIVISION, MRS. ROSE GOODSTADT- THE SUPER INTENDENT OF THE ABERDEEN REHABILITATION CENTRE, MRS. JUDITH MA AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE KAI CHI CHILDREN'S CENTRE, MISS OPHELIA CHAN.

DURING THE TOUR. LADY MACLEHOSE WAS BRIEFED ON THE FACILITIES AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE TWO INSTITUTIONS.

THE ABERDEEN REHABILITATION CENTRE, OPERATED BY SWD'S REHABILITATION DIVISION, IS AIMED AT PROVIDING SOCIAL AND VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION FOR DISABLED PERSONS IN THE FORM OF MEDICAL CARE, RECREATION, EVENING ADULT EDUCATION, AND SHELTERED WORK SHOPS. IT HAS AN ENROLMENT OF ABOUT 230.

THE KAI CHI CHILDREN'S CENTRE, WHICH IS IN THE SAME COMPOUND WAS FORMERLY THE CHILDREN'S SECTION OF THE ABERDEEN REHABILITATION CENTRE BEFORE 1972. IT PROVIDES DAY AND RESIDENTIAL TRAINING FACILITIES TO 140 MODERATELY MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN SIX AND 15.

THE CHILDREN ARE TRAINED IN SIMPLE SELF-CARE SKILLS, TAUGHT GENERAL KNOWLEDGE, LEARNING HABITS AND WORK TOLERANCE. IN ADDITION, SOME FORM OF EDUCATION, INCLUDING SIMPLE READING, WRITING, KNOWLEDGE OF NUMBERS AND SOCIAL MANNERS IS GIVEN.

AT THE END OF THE TOUR, LADY MACLEHOSE HAD TEA WITH TRAINEES FROM BOTH CENTRES, DURING WHICH SOME OF THEM DISPLAYED THE IR TALENTS WITH MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, IN SINGING AND MARTIAL ARTS.

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