XN000022-1980-05-06 — Page 6

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TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1980

NUMBER OF REPORTING INSTITUTIONS

THE NUMBER OF REPORTING BANKS ROSE DURING MARCH TO 110, AS FOUR MORE OF THE BANKS WHICH WERE LICENSED IN THE COURSE OF 1979 BEGAN TO OPERATE IN HONG KONG. THE NUMBER OF REPORTING DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES WAS UNCHANGED AT 272.

HONG KONG SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL REHABILITATION EFFORT

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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT HONG KONG WILL SUPPORT THE 1981 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS PROCLAIMED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS.

THE UNITED NATIONS THEME OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR IS +FULL PARTICIPATION AND EQUALITY+. IT HAS TWO AIMS: REALISATION OF THE RIGHT OF DISABLED PERSONS TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE SOCIAL LIFE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOCIETIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE, AND PROMOTION OF THEIR ENJOYMENT OF LIVING CONDITIONS EQUAL TO THOSE OF OTHER CITIZENS.

THE YEAR WILL BE GIVEN FULL RECOGNITION IN HONG KONG BY BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

ON THE ADVICE OF THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE, IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT THE LOCAL THEME FOR THE YEAR SHOULD BE INTEGRATING THE DISABLED INTO THE COMMUNITY+.

THIS THEME RE-EMPHASIZES THE GOVERNMENT'S DETERMINATION TO INTEGRATE THE DISABLED INTO THE COMMUNITY AND IS IN LINE WITH THE POLICY OBJECTIVES STATED IN THE 1977 WHITE PAPER ON REHABILITATION.

A CENTRAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF DR HARRY S.Y. FANG HAS BEEN SET UP TO CO-ORDINATE THE EFFORTS OF VAR JOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY BODIES.

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH, THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE, AND THE DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION, SOCIAL WELFARE, MEDICAL AND HEALTH, LABOUR, AND INFORMATION SERVICES,

A SERIES OF EVENTS IS NOW BEING PLANNED TO BE HELD IN 1981 TO PROMOTE THE LOCAL THEME OF INTEGRATING THE DISABLED INTO SOCIETY. AMONG THE PROPOSALS ARE AN EXHIBITION, COMPETITIONS, WORK CAMPS AND RECREATION CAMPS, SEMINARS AND TALENT QUESTS.

ALL THE EVENTS WILL BE GEARED TO BRING ABOUT A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEMS OF THE DISABLED AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY CAN HELP THEM SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS AND ACHIEVE INTEGRATION.

+THE ABILITIES OF THE DISABLED WILL ALSO BE EMPHASIZED IN THESE PROGRAMMES+, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

THE CENTRAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE IS NOW WORKING CLOSELY WITH A NUMBER OF WORKING BODIES WHICH HAVE BEEN FORMED FOR THE VARIOUS EVENTS, DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMMES WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A LATER DATE.