XN000022-1980-09-21 — Page 5

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1980

REVIEW ON DEVELOPMENT OF SERVICES FOR ELDERLY

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THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ARE NOW REVIEWING WELFARE SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY TO DETERMINE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID THIS TODAY (SUNDAY) AT THE OPENING OF THE RING WAH SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY IN CHAI WAN.

SHE SAID THE REVIEW WOULD ASSESS FUTURE SUPPLY AND DEMAND AND SET OUT THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS IN THE VARIOUS SERVICES FOR OLD PEOPLE.

THE REVIEW IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, SHE SAID.

MRS CHAN SAID SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WERE IN GREAT DEMAND AS MANY PEOPLE COULD HARDLY SPARE MORE TIME FOR THE IR ELDERLY PARENTS IN THIS COMPETITIVE SOCIETY OF HONG KONG.

SHE SAID OLD PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE A HAPPY LIFE AFTER MANY YEARS OF SWEAT AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY.

TO THIS END, SHE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES OLD AGE ALLOWANCE AND OLD AGE SUPPLEMENT, AS WELL AS IMPROVES SERVICES IN MEDICAL CARE, HOUSING, INSTITUTIONAL CARE AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE ELDERLY,

THE HING WAH SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY IS RUN BY THE METHODIST EPWORTH VILLAGE COMMUNITY CENTRE OF THE HONG KONG METHODIST CHURCH, AND PROVIDES SUCH ACTIVITIES AS INTEREST AND FRATERNITY GROUPS, COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND COUNSELLING.

FINANCED BY GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION AND CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE METHODIST CHURCH, MRS CHAN SAID THE PROJECT REPRESENTS THE JOINT EFFORTS BY THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN PROMOTING SERVICES FOR OLD PEOPLE IN CHAI WAN.

SHE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE ORGANISERS AND EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT MORE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES COULD MAKE EVEN BIGGER CONTRIBUTIONS BY SETTING UP MORE SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY.

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