XN000022-1979-01-13 — Page 6

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1979

NEW WORKSHOP FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS

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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THE WHITE PAPER ON REHABILITATION PUBLISHED IN 1977 HAD POINTED TO THE NEED FOR CONTINUED COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN HELPING EX-MENTAL PATIENTS REGA IN SELF-CONFIDENCE AND WORKING ABILITY.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF HONG KONG ISLAND'S FIRST SHELTERED WORKSHOP FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS IN WONG CHUK HANG ESTATE, HE SAID: *SUPPORT IS PARTICULARLY NECESSARY FROM VOLUNTARY AGENÇ IEŠ IN PROVIDING VARIOUS FORMS OF REHABILITATION SERVICES.+

MR. LEE SAID THE REHABILITATION WHITE PAPER HAD RECOMMENDED THE PROVISION OF REHABILITATION SERVICES SUCH AS SHELTERED WORKSHOPS AND HOSTELS FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS, APART FROM AN EXPANSION OF MEDICAL FACILITIES.

THE WONG CHUK HANG WORKSHOP, FINANCED BY THE LOTTER IES FUND THROUGH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, IS RUN BY THE NEW LIFE PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION.

MR. LEE PRAISED THE ASSOCIATION FOR ITS WORK IN MENTAL WELFARE AND SAID IT HAD BEEN IN CLOSE CO-OPERATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN PROVIDING A NUMBER OF REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS.

THE IR ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE TWO HALF-WAY HOUSES, A +NEW LIFE+ FARM, A HOSTEL AND A SHELTERED WORKSHOP IN KOWLOON.

HE DESCRIBED THE NEW WONG CHUK HANG WORKSHOP AS YET ANOTHER ACHIEVEMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION WHICH HELPED EASE THE SHORTFALL OF SUCH FACILITIES.

WITH A MAXIMUM CAPACITY FOR 140, THE WORKSHOP AIMS AT ENCOURAGING THE INTEGRATION OF EX-MENTAL PATIENTS INTO THE COMMUNITY BY ENABLING THEM TO CARRY ON A USEFUL WORK ING LIFE.

IT CATERS FOR THOSE AGED BETWEEN 15 AND 60 AND PROVIDES VARIOUS FORMS OF SIMPLE INDUSTRIAL WORK.

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