XN000022-1979-08-04 — Page 2

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 1979

1

GOYT'S REHABILITATION PLANS FOR THE HANDICAPPED AMBITIOUS

*****

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES ON REHABILITATION SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO EMPHASISE AN ALL-ROUND APPROACH TO ENABLE HANDICAPPED PEOPLE TO DEVELOP THEIR ABILITIES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT, AND AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, TO INTEGRATE THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY.

THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID THIS TODAY (SATURDAY) AT THE FLAG PRESENTATION CEREMONY FOR THE HONG KONG SPECIAL OLYMPIC TEAM WHICH IS TO TAKE PART IN THE FIFTH INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS IN NEW YORK LATER THIS MONTH.

+THE PUBLICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT WHITE PAPER ON REHABILITATION SERVICES NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO MARKED THE BEGINNING OF AN AMBITIOUS PROGRAMME IN THIS FIELD,+ MR. CHAMBERS SAID.

+SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FORM AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE OVERALL PROGRAMME,+

MR, CHAMBERS SAID PARTICIPATION IN THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS WOULD HELP HANDICAPPED PEOPLE TO FORGET THEIR LIMITATIONS, GAIN CONFIDENCE AND SHOW THAT THEY HAD MORE ABILITIES THAN DISABILITIES, ALTHOUGH THEY MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE GREATER EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE THE PERFORMANCE LEVELS THAT WERE MORE EASILY REACHED BY ABLE-BODIED PEOPLE.

HE ADDED THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT WAS TO CO-ORDINATE THE WIDE VARIETY OF REHABILITATION SERVICES PROVIDED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE.

FINALLY, MR. CHAMBERS SAID MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG TEAM, ORGANISED BY THE SPORTS ASSOCIATION FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, WOULD BE WORTHY AMBASSADORS OF HONG KONG AND THEIR PARTICIPATION

IN THE INTERNATIONAL EVENT WOULD BE A GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHER HANDICAPPED ATHLETES HERE, AND TO THOSE WORKING AMONG THEM.

NOTE TO EDITORSI

COPIES OF MR. CHAMBERS' SPEECH AT THE FLAG PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL BE DISTRIBUTED SEPARATELY IN G.I.S. PRESS BOXES THIS AFTERNOON.

/2 ....