XN000022-1978-12-20 — Page 33

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1978

D.S.W. INAUGURATES HK'S FIRST TRANSPORT SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY

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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) INAUGURATED HONG KONG'S FIRST SPECIAL TRANSPORT SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY.

SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY AT QUEEN'S PIER, MR. LEE CALLED FOR MORE TRANSPORT SERVICES OF THIS KIND TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF OLD PEOPLE.

THE TRANSPORT SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY, RUN BY THE HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR THE AGED, HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE WITH A SPECIALLY EQUIPPED 50-SEATER BUS DONATED BY THE HONG KONG COMMERCIAL BROAD- CASTING CO. LTD.

MR. LEE SAID PROVISION OF THE SERVICE WAS IN LINE WITH A RECOMMENDATION MADE BY THE GREEN PAPER ON ELDERLY SERVICES AS A MEANS TO HELP KEEP THE ELDERLY MOBILE AND ACTIVE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

HE SAID OLD PEOPLE HAD MUCH TIME AT THEIR DISPOSAL AND THE SERVICE WOULD ENABLE THEM TO TAKE UP MORE LEISURE ACTIVITIES SO THAT THEY WOULD BE LESS LIKELY TO ISOLATE AND WITHDRAW THEMSELVES.

AT THIS MORNING'S CEREMONY, MR. LEE RECEIVED, ON BEHALF OF THE SOCIETY, THE BUS FROM MR. TSE CHI-MAN, CHINESE PROGRAMME DIRECTOR OF THE BROADCASTING COMPANY, AND LATER CÚT THE RIBBON TO MARK THE INAUGURATION OF THE SERVICE.

THE BUS HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO MEET THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF OLD PEOPLE EASY ACCESS, COMFORT AND SAFETY. IT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR LOAN TO OTHER OLD PEOPLE'S INSTITUTIONS FOR ORGANISING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, AND IS EXPECTED TO BE USED BY 14,000 OLD PEOPLE EACH YEAR.

AFTER THE CEREMONY A GROUP OF 50 OLD PEOPLE TRAVELLED ON THE SPECIAL BUS FOR A TRIP TO OCEAN PARK. THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S CASTLE PEAK BOYS' HOME PROVIDED A BAND AND SCOUTS TO ENTERTAIN AND HELP THE OLD PEOPLE AT THE CEREMONY,

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