XN000022-1981-01-16 — Page 3

FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1981

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+THE THIRD LIES WITH THE HANDICAPPED THEMSELVES.

CAPI

THEY MUST HAVE THE COURAGE AND PERSISTENCE AND FAITH TO BENEFIT FROM THE SERVICES,+ SIR MURRAY SAID.

HE WAS SURE THIS WOULD NOT BE WANTING PROVIDED THEY WERE SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE NONE OF THESE PROBLEMS CAN BE OVERCOME UNLESS PEOPLE KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR THE DISABLED AND USE IT ARE PREPARED AND PROUD TO WORK IN REHABILITATION AND SPECIAL CARE SERVICES TO DO IT WILL ENCOURAGE THE HANDICAPPED PARTICULARLY THEIR OWN RELATIVES WHILE THEY ARE BEING REHABILITATED- AND FINALLY WILL WELCOME THE REHABILITATED BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY AND NOT FORGET THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS.

THE GOVERNOR STRESSED THAT IN THE EFFORTS OF THE CENTRAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR THE YDP (CCCIYDP) TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AS TO THE ABILITIES AND NEEDS OF THE DISABLED, NO INFLUENCE COULD BE AS EFFECTIVE AS THE DISABLED THEMSELVES, SIMPLY BY DEMONSTRATING WHAT THEY COULD DO IN SCHOOL, IN WORK, OR IN SPORT.

HE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO AFFIRM THE GOVERNMENT'S WHOLE-HEARTED SUPPORT FOR THE AIMS AND PRINCIPLES SET DOWN IN A REHABILITATION INTERNATIONAL CHARTER FOR THE 80'S WHICH SETS OUT TO IMPROVE REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED IN THE AREAS OF PREVENTION, PROVISION, INTEGRATION AND INFORMATION.

+ INDEED IT IS REASSURING TO NOTE HOW SIMILAR THEY ARE TO THOSE WHICH HONG KONG SET ITSELF IN THE 1977 WHITE PAPER ON REHABILITATION, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

THE CHARTER WAS PRESENTED TO SIR MURRAY BY DR HARRY FANG, PRESIDENT OF REHABILITATION INTERNATIONAL AND CHAIRMAN OF THE CCC YDP IN HONG KONG, DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY.

THE CEREMONY MARKED THE BEGINNING OF A SERIES OF EVENTS ORGANISED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN HONG KONG TO CELEBRATE THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS.

HOSTED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR ERIC HO, AND MEMBERS OF THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE, THE CEREMONY WAS ATTENDED BY SOME 1 200 GUESTS INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS OF SPÉCIAL SCHOOLS, SPONSORS AND THE DISABLED THEMSELVES.

AMONG THOSE PRESENT WERE FOUR INTERNATIONAL GUESTS WHO HAD COME TO HONG KONG FOR THE CEREMONY. THEY ARE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WORLD PLANNING GROUP FOR THE CHARTER FOR THE 80'S, MR ALFRED MORRIS- THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF REHABILITATION INTERNATIONAL, MR NORMAN ACTON- ITS VICE PRESIDENT FOR ASIA AND PACIFIC, PROF CHARLOTTE FLORO- AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR REHABILITATION OF DISABLED, MR LIONEL WATTS.

FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY, THE GOVERNOR OPENED AN EXHIBITION ENTITLED 'ONE OF US' AT THE CITY HALL EXHIBITION HALL.

THE EXHIBITION IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE JOINT COUNCIL FOR THE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY DISABLED - REHABILITATION DIVISION OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, TO PROMOTE BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DISABLED AND TO HELP THE IR INTEGRATION INTO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

/APART FROM