XN000022-1979-04-17 — Page 2

TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 1979

GOVT COMMITTED TO HELP THE DISABLED

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THE GOVERNMENT, HOPING TO SET AN EXAMPLE FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HAS TAKEN THREE MAJOR STEPS TO HELP DISABLED PEOPLE FIND JOBS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. IAN STRACHAN SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

ADDRESSING THE KOWLOON EAST ROTARY CLUB LUNCHEON MEETING AT THE PENINSULA HOTEL, MR. STRACHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS COMMITTED TO INTEGRATING THE DISABLED INTO THE COMMUNITY.

REALISING THAT MUCH MORE NEEDED TO BE DONE WITHIN THE PUBLIC SERVICE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN THE FOLLOWING MAJOR STEPS:

* THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE HAS INSTRUCTED

DEPARTMENTS THAT WHEN INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES FOR NEW POSTS PREFERENCE IS TO BE GIVEN TO SUITABLY QUALIFIED DISABLED PEOPLE-

* THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS AGREED TO ADAPT GOVERNMENT PREMISES WHERE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT ACCESS IS NOT AN OBSTACLE TO EMPLOYMENT, AND

* THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL TAKE OVER FROM THE SOCIAL

WELFARE DEPARTMENT LATER THIS YEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PLACE IN EMPLOYMENT PHYSICALLY DISABLED, BLIND OR DEAF PEOPLE SEEKING WORK. THIS WILL BE EXTENDED TO OTHER DISABLED GROUPS LATER.

IN PROCEEDING IN THIS MANNER, MR. STRACHAN SAID, GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE THAT DISABLED PEOPLE DO NOT LOWER STANDARDS OF WORK AND THAT IF THE OPERATION OF THIS PRINCIPLE WAS SUCCESSFUL IN GOVERNMENT IT FOLLOWED THAT IT COULD BE INTRODUCED MUCH MORE WIDELY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

+ IT IS GOVERNMENT'S OBJECTIVE TO MAKE DISABLED PEOPLE MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE JOB MARKET SO THAT THEY WILL BE TRAINED TO USE THEIR ABILITIES TO THE MAXIMUM POSSIBLE,+ MR. STRACHAN SAID.

+WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE MORE BLIND PEOPLE TRAINED AS COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS RATHER THAN SIMPLY BEING TELEPHONE OPERATORS, AND DEAF PEOPLE DOING INDUSTRIAL DESIGN CONSULTANCY RATHER THAN SIMPLY DOING ART WORK.+

DISABLED PEOPLE REQUIRED THE SAME HUMAN RIGHTS AS EVERYONE ELSE IN THE COMMUNITY IN RESPECT OF TRANSPORT, PHYSICAL ACCESS, HOUSING, RECREATION AND SPORT.

+THIS MEANS OVERCOMING THE APATHY OR PREJUDICES OF TRANSPORT OPERATORS AND USERS, ARCHITECTS, DEVELOPERS AND INDEED DECISION- MAKERS WITHIN GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.

MR. STRACHAN