XN000022-1978-06-07 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1978

THEY RECOMMENDED THAT GREATER PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE EARLY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GREEK PAPER PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PLACES.

KR. WONG LAM FURTHER THOUGHT IT SOME WHAT DISAPPOINTING TO HAVE A PLANNING RATIO OF FOUR PLACES PER 1,000 ELDERLY, THE GREEN PAPER ALSO REVEALED THAT THERE WOULD BE RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS IN ACHIEVING THIS TARGET IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

HE CONSIDERED THAT THERE IS URGENT NEED FOR THE SERVICE IN HONG KONG AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE IT GREATER PRIORITY OVER OTHER PRIORITY SERVICES,

BOTH MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH AND MISS BENNETT PROPOSED THAT SUITABLE STANDARDS BE DRAWN UP FOR THE CONTROL OF THESE INSTITUTIONS.

THESE STANDARDS SHOULD BE REALISTIC AND SUITABLE FOR THE LOCAL SITUATION BUT SHOULD, HOWEVER, INDICATE THE LEVEL OF QUALITY OF SERVICE WHICH SHOULD BE MAINTAINED.

MISS BENNETT SUGGESTED THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO BE IDEALISTIC EUT CAN STATE A DECENT AVERAGE REGARDING SPACE, TOILET AND KITCHEN FACILITIES AND THE TRAINING OF STAFF.

MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT AN IMPROVEMENT IN QUALITY OF SERVICE WOULD NECESSARILY REQUIRE A GREATER FINANCIAL COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT, AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NUMBER, TYPE, AND KIND OF PERSONS TO BE TRAINED, APPROPRIATE TRAINING FACILITIES FOR THEM, AND A DETERMINATION OF THE LEVELS OF TRAINING REQUIRED.

SHE HOPED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD LOOK INTO THESE AREAS WHEN IT CONTEMPLATES AN EXPANSION OF INSTITUTIONAL CARE FOR THE AGED.

ACCOMMODATION IN CHAI-TONGS

THE HON. PETER C. WONG CONFINED HIS COMMENTS ON THE GREEN PAPER TO THE ROLE PLAYED BY CHAI-TONGS' (LITERALLY VEGETARIAN HALLS).

HE GENERALLY AGREED WITH THE VIEWS OF THE GREEN PAPER BUT POINTED OUT THAT IT HAD OMITTED TO MENTION THAT 'CHA I-TONGS' ARE MOSTLY RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS, EITHER BUDDHIST OR TAOIST.

AS SUCH, HE SAID, NORMAL STANDARDS OF SERVICES ARE NOT READILY APPLICABLE, AND DIRECT GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION WOULD BÉ UNDESIRABLE. ANY ATTEMPT TO DO SO WOULD VIOLATE THE PRINCIPLE OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION.

HE SUPPORTED THE PROPOSED STUDY ON THESE CHAI-TONGS'

BUT SAID IT SHOULD PREFERABLY BE DONE, EITHER SEPARATELY OR JOINTLY, EY THE HONG KONG BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION AND THE TAOIST ASSOCIATION UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

ANY STEP THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN TO IMPROVE

THE IR OPERATIONS SHOULD ALSO BE UNDETAKEN THROUGH THESE TWO ASSOCIATIONS.

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