XN000022-1979-10-13 — Page 4

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1979

MORE HOMES FOR THE AGED ARE NEEDED IN NT

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES TODAY (SATURDAY) EXPRESSED HOPE TO SEE CLOSER CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN PROVIDING MORE CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES FOR THE GROWING ELDERLY POPULATION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

SPEAKING AT THE KAM TIN CARE AND ATTENTION HOME IN YUEN LONG ON ITS OPEN DAY, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THE HOME, BUILT BY THE SALVATION ARMY IN 1975, WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO SERVE AGED PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT.

+SOME PEOPLE, AS THEY GROW OLD, ARE UNABLE TO LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES, BUT THEY ARE NOT ILL AND DO NOT NEED A HOSPITAL. THEY NEED PERSONAL CARE AND OCCASIONAL MEDICAL ATTENTION,

HE SAID.

HE NOTED THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE WHITE PAPER MENTIONED A NEED FOR 1 400 PLACES IN THESE INSTITUTIONS BY 1982/83 AND THERE IS A BIG GAP BETWEEN SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

+AND I AM GLAD THE PEOPLE OF YUEN LONG ARE RESPONDING TO THIS NEED BY PRESSING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANOTHER SUCH HOME TO BE BUILT BY THE POK OI HOSPITAL AT PING SHAN, HE SAID.

FOR THE NEW HOME, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID, THE ALLOCATION OF LAND WAS IN HAND AND PREPARATION OF ARCHITECTURAL PLANS UNDERWAY.

*THIS INITIATIVE IS VERY WELCOME AND I AM SURE LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS WILL COME FORWARD TO GIVE IT THEIR SUPPORT AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.+

HE PRAISED THE SALVATION ARMY FOR THEIR GOOD WORK IN RUNNING THE KAM TIN HOME.

THERE ARE 19 CENTRES FOR THE AGED OPERATED BY VOLUNTARY AND CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

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