XN000022-1978-07-14 — Page 14

FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1972

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GOVERNMENT INCREASES SUBVENTIONS TO REHABILITATION AGENCIES * * * * * *

THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO THE EXPANSION OF REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED CAN BE DEMONSTRATED BY THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE I SUBVENTIONS FOR TH13 FINANCIAL YEAR, THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. IAN STRACHAN SAID TODAY.

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SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE JOINT COUNCIL FOR THE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY DISAELED, MR. STRACHAN SAID SOCIAL REHABILITATION SUEVENTIONS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION SUBVENTIONS HAVE BEEN INCREASED BY 40 PER CENT AND 47 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN 1973 AS COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

+EXPANSION WILL CONTINUE, THOUGH PERHAPS NOT WITH THESE

DRAMATIC INCREASES, IN ORDER THAT OUR POLICY OBJECTIVES CAN BE MET,+ MR. STRACHAN SAID.

HOWEVER, MR. STRACHAN SAID THAT PRE-SCHOOL CARE FOR THE DISABLED CHILDREN HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT NEGLECTED.

HE SAID ALTHOUGH IT IS PROPOSED TO PROVIDE A TOTAL OF 120 PLACES FOR LESS SEVERELY DISABLED YOUNG CHILDREN IN SUBVENTED DAY CARE CENTRES IN 1979 AND TO EXPAND SPECIAL CENTRES FOR THE VERY SEVERELY DISABLED, MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE OVER THE NEXT DECADE ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG MODERATELY RETARDED CHILDREN.

+I HOPE THAT MANY AGENCIES ILL BE PREPARED TO OPEN THEIR DOORS TO INTEGRATE THE LESS SEVERELY DISABLED CHILDREN WITHIN THEIR CENTRES AND THAT THEY WILL ALSO BE WILLING TO PROVIDE NEW SPECIAL CENTRES, IN PARTICULAR FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED,+ MR. STRACHAN SAID.

MR. STRACHAN ALSO REVEALED THAT SCHOOL PLACES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN THE NEXT YEAR WITH THOSE FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED GROUP TO BE DOUBLED IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.

MR. STRACHAN SAID A LARGER PROVISION OF CARE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE DISABLED HAS BEEN PROPOSED DURING THIS YEAR'S REVIEW OF THE PROGRAMME PLAN, IN PARTICULAR FOR THE MENTALLY ILL AND MENTALLY RETARDED.

HE SAID A NEW PROPOSAL IS THE PROVISION OF LONG-STAY NURSING HOME AND BOARDING HOUSE CARE FOR THE MENTALLY ILL.

FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED, MR. STRACHAN SAID, IT IS PROPOSED TO EXPAND CARE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE SEVERELY RETARDED BOTH IN RESIDENTIAL AND DAY CARE.

HE ALSO REVEALED THAT A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE COMPUTERISATION OF A CENTRAL REGISTRY FOR THE DISABLED POPULATION WILL START IN JUNE NEXT YEAR.

ON MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CARE FOR THE DISABLED, MR. STRACHAN SAID A GOVERNMENT WORKING PARTY HAS EEGUN REVIEWING HOW TO EXPAND SUCH CARE IN HONG KONG AND THAT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR FOR CONSIDERATION.

HE SAID