XN000022-1978-06-07 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1978

HE NOTED HOWEVER THAT SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY AS OUTLINED IN THE GREEN PAPER WILL ONLY BE MEANINGFUL IF THEY ARE PROVIDED I. SUFFICIENT QUANTITY AS WELL AS QUALITY TO TAKE CARE OF THE INCREASED NUMBER OF OLD PEOPLE PROJECTED FOR EY 1986. WITH INCREASED LIFE EXPECTANCY, THERE WILL BE 573,000 PERSONS OR 10.7 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION WHO WILL BE AGED 60 AND OVER BY THAT TIME, HE SAID.

A CARING COMMUNITY

DR. FANG POINTED OUT THAT THE ATTITUDE OF THE COMMUNITY COULD BE A DECIDING FACTOR IN SUSTAINING THE ELDERLY PERSONS' SELF-RESPECT AND INTEGRATION IN THE COMMUNITY. HE HOPED THE GOVERNMENT WOULD EXPLORE EVERY POSSIBLE MEANS OF PROMOTING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND CONSIDERATION OF THE PROBLEMS OF THE AGED.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN STRESSED THAT BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS WOULD HAVE TO PROMOTE THE CONCEPT OF THE +CAR ING COMMUNITY+ FOR OLD PEOPLE.

HE SAID BECAUSE OF THE CHINESE TRADITION OF CLOSE FAMILY TIES, MANY OLD PEOPLE STILL LIVE WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND THIS MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO EXPAND MORE RAPIDLY ITS SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT CHANGING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS, AND DIFFERENT ATTITUDES ON THE PART OF YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD NOT ERODE THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY COHESIVENESS.

THEREFORE, HE SAID, A BALANCE WOULD HAVE TO BE STRUCK IN PROVIDING SERVICES. ON THE ONE HAND, SUPPORT SERVICES CUGHT TO BE PROVIDED TO ENCOURAGE AND HELP FAMILIES LOOK AFTER THE IR ELDERLY MEMBERS. ON THE OTHER, OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS RESIDENTIAL CARE OR HOSPITAL CARE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT BE CARED FOR WITHIN THE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT,

MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH SUGGESTED THAT DISCUSSIONS ON THE PROBLEMS OF OLD AGE SHOULD BE A PART OF THE CURRICULUM IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES SHOULD ALSO AIM AT HELPING THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY.

MR. WONG LAM POINTED OUT THAT THE DISSEMINATION OF HEALTH INFORMATION TO THE ELDERLY AND THE PROMOTION OF RESPECT FOR THE AGED ARE INADEQUATE AT PRESENT.

HE WELCOMED THE GREEN PAPER'S PROPOSAL TO REINFORCE GOVERNMENT EFFORTS IN THIS DIRECTION AND HOPED IT WOULD MAKE GREATER USE OF AND WORK CLOSELY WITH SUCH CIVIC BODIES AS MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS AND CLANSMEN ASSOCIATIONS TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM RESULTS.

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