XN000022-1978-10-11 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1978

13

WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE ASSISTANCE TO BE OUT SOON

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A COMPREHENSIVE WHITE PAPER WILL BE PUBLISHED SHORTLY ON SOCIAL WELFARE ASSISTANCE, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON.

HE SAID THE WHITE PAPER'S CONCLUSIONS BROADLY WERE AS

FOLLOWS:

*

*

THAT THE SYSTEM OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BASED ON THE COST-OF-LIVING WAS WELL UNDERSTOOD AND ACCEPTED AS THE BASIS FOR CASH PAYMENTS EUT THAT ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS WERE REQUIRED FOR THOSE DEPENDENT UPON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR LONG PERIODS, AND THIS HAS BEEN DONE-

THAT MORE SHOULD BE DONE FOR THE AGED AND PARTICULARLY TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO CONTINUE LIFE WITHIN THEIR FAMILY OR COMMUNITY IN DIGNITY. THE QUALIFYING AGE FOR OLD AGE ALLOWANCE HAS BEEN DROPPED FROM 75 TO 70- AND A SUPPLEMENT FOR THOSE OVER 60 RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN INTRODUCED. IN ADDITION TO THESE PAYMENTS, A RANGE OF SERVICES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS INCLUDING: THE PROVISION OF SPECIAL PLACES IN PUBLIC HOUSING, EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICES, DAY HOSPITALS AND MORE GERIATRIC BEDS=

FOR THOSE NOT IN NEED OF MEDICAL CARE BUT WHO ARE UNABLE TO LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES OR TO BE CARED FOR BY THE IR FAMILIES, THE GOVERNMENT ENVISAGED PROVISION OF 1,700 ADDITIONAL CARE AND ATTENTION PLACES AND 2,800 ADDITIONAL PLACES IN HOMES FOR THE AGED. THESE FACILITIES WOULD SERVE ONLY A VERY SMALL PROPORTION OF A TOTAL POPULATION OF 400,000 AGED 60 AND OVER=

THE BULK OF HONG KONG'S OLD PEOPLE WOULD REMAIN WITH THEIR FAMILIES, WHERE THEY PREFERRED TO BE, BUT THERE WOULD BE A RANGE OF SUPPORTING SERVICES TO HELP THEM TO DO SO. THE FOCAL POINT OF SUCH SERVICES WOULD BE 17 DISTRICT MULTI-PURPOSE CENTRES A NETWORK OF SOCIAL CENTRES WHICH WOULD PROVIDE A BASE FOR ORGANISING HOME HELP, LAUNDRY SEK

THE BULK OF HONG KONG'S OLD PEOPLE WOULD REMAIN WITH THE IR FAMILIES, WHERE THEY PREFERRED TO BE, BUT THERE WOULD BE A RANGE OF SUPPORTING SERVICES TO HELP THEM TO DO SO. THE FOCAL POINT CF SUCH SERVICES WOULD BE 17 DISTRICT MULTI-PURPOSE CENTRES AND A NETWORK OF SOCIAL CENTRES WHICH WOULD PROVIDE A BASE FOR ORGANISING HOME HELP, LAUNDRY SERVICES, COUNSELLING AND SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES=

* THAT MORE SHOULD BE DONE FOR THE REHABILITATION OR

SUPPORT OF THOSE MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED, AND A TEN-YEAR PROGRAMME OF PHASED DEVELOPMENT OF CENTRES AND SERVICES HAD BEEN DRAWN UP AND THE IR DETAILS ALREADY PUBLISHED IN A WHITE PAPER=

THESE SERVICES