XN000022-1980-03-13 — Page 5

++

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1980

AS REGARDS THE CHINA COAST COMMUNITY RESIDENCE (CCCR), AN INSTITUTIONAL HOME FOR ELDERLY ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THERE WERE BASIC DIFFERENCES AS TO THE WAY IN WHICH THE CCCR AND OTHER OLD PEOPLE'S INSTITUTION PROJECTS WERE HELPED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

HE SAID GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE FOR OLD PEOPLE'S INSTITUTION PROJECTS WAS NORMALLY GIVEN BY WAY OF LAND GRANTS, FREE GRANTS TOWARDS THE CAPITAL COST AND ANNUAL RECURRENT SUBSIDIES TO MEET OPERATIONAL EXPENDITURES,

IN THE CASE OF THE CCCR, HE SAID, THE PROJECT RECEIVED GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE ONLY IN THE FORM OF A INTEREST-FREE LOAN WHICH IS REPAYABLE, WHILST THE LAND AND PREMISES WERE PROVIDED BY THE PROJECT ORGANISOR, HE SAID.

THE CCCR IS OPERATING ON A SELF-SUPPORTING BASIS, AND MEETS THE RECURRENT EXPENDITURES ON ITS OWN BY CHARGING ECONOMIC FEES, HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE CCCR ITSELF WAS A WORTHWHILE PROJECT CATERING FOR THE NEEDS OF ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLE WHO WERE LONG- TIME HONG KONG RESIDENTS AND WHO HAD IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER CONTRIBUTED TO THE COMMUNITY DURING THE PRIME TIME OF THEIR LIFE.

HE SAID WHILST THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AIMED AT MEETING THE NEEDS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE +VULNERABLE GROUP+, THERE WAS NO REASON WHY THE PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD NOT BE ENCOURAGED TO OPERATE INSTITUTIONAL HOMES, SIMILAR TO THE CCCR, FOR ELDERLY MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE WHO HAD A NEED FOR THEM.

MHD PLANS TO SET UP SIX MORE CHILD ASSESSMENT CENTRES

******

THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT PLANS TO SET UP SIX MORE CHILD ASSESSMENT CENTRES IN HONG KONG TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR CHILD ASSESSMENT SERVICE BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

THIS WAS STATED BY A CONSULTANT PAEDIATRICIAN, DR LILLIAN KO,

IN CHARGE OF THE ARRAN STREET CHILD ASSESSMENT CLINIC WHEN SHÉ ADDRESSED THE KOWLOON ROTARY CLUB MEETING THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.

DR KO SAID THE SIX NEW CENTRES WILL BE SET UP IN HIGH STREET, ARGYLE STREET, SHA TIN HOSPITAL, TUEN MUN HOSPITAL, LOWER KWAI CHUNG AND KWUN TONG.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT ABOUT THREE PER CENT OF CHILDREN MAY GROW UP WITH SOME SORT OF MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITY.

DR KO STRESSED THAT A RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY SHOULD PROVIDE REHABILITATION TO THE DISABLED BECAUSE IT IS THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHT OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL TO MAKE HIS LIFE AS USEFUL AND SATISFYING AS POSSIBLE +.

/+A BASIC STEF