XN000022-1978-05-17 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1978

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HE SAID THERE WAS AN INCREASING DEMAND FOR FACILITIES FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION IN GENERAL AND FOR HOLIDAY CAMPS IN PARTICULAR AS SHOWN BY THE GROWING EXODUS EVERY WEEKEND

AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE AND THE SUCCESS OF THE SAI KUNG OUTDOOR RECREATION CENTRE SINCE IT OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN 1976.+

MR. LI SAID THE GOVERNMENT LIKED TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO PROVIDE SUCH PUBLIC FACILITIES THOUGH IN GENERAL THEY WOULD BE EXPECTED TO RUN ON AN INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL BASIS.

HE PRAISED THE KUK FOR SHOWING +ADMIRABLE INITIATIVE+

IN PLANNING TO DEVELOP THE PAK TAM CHUNG SITE AS A HOLIDAY CAMP AND RECREATION CENTRE.

CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES FOR THE AGED

- A PRIORITY FOR THE ELDERLY

*****

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. K.L. THONG, SAID THAT ONE OF THE PRIORITIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IS THE PROVISION OF CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES FOR THE AGED, WHO ARE SICK OR INFIRMED.

DR. THONG WAS SPEAKING AT A MEETING OF THE HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR THE AGED THIS EVENING.

HE SAID RECENTLY THERE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY IN REGARD TO SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY FOLLOWING THE PUBLICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S GREEN PAPER ON THE SUBJECT.

+HOW TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OLD PEOPLE HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT TOPIC NOT ONLY AMONG PROFESSIONS BUT AMONG A LARGE SECTION OF THE PUBLIC,+ HE SAID.

HE SAID THE OBJECTIVE OF CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES IS TO CATER FOR THOSE OLD PEOPLE WHO REQUIRE CONSTANT AND PERSONAL CARE.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO FAMILIES OR FRIENDS TO RELY ON OR WHO FALL SICK AND TREATED IN HOSPITAL BUT CANNOT BE DISCHARGED EVEN WHEN THEY NO LONGER REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION.

+THESE OLD PEOPLE LIE ABANDONED IN HOSPITALS SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE IS A LACK OF SUITABLE INSTITUTIONS TO ACCOMMODATE THEM EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NO LONGER ILL, + SAID DR. THONG.

IN OLHER