XN000022-1981-03-26 — Page 7

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1981

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MORE CARE FOR AGED AND DISABLED URGED

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HONG KONG HAS A SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES FOR THE AGED AND THE SEVERELY MENTALLY DISABLED PEOPLE, THE HON F.K. HU SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

DURING THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE NUMBER OF PLACES IN CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES IN 1981-82 REMAINS AT 375 WITHOUT ANY INCREASE, AND IN RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR THE DISABLED, THE 12 PER CENT INCREASE IS MEANT TO CATER FOR ALL CATEGORIES OF THE HANDICAPPED.

WHILE AGREE ING THAT THE ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED PERSONS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO REMAIN AND BE CARED FOR IN THE IR OWN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE HELP OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES, HE CONSIDERED INSTITUTIONAL OR RESIDENTIAL CARE IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE MORE SEVERE CASES.

+FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A FAMILY TO PROVIDE PROPER CARE AT HOME FOR A SENILE AND INFIRM OLD PERSON OR SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED YOUNG ADULT WITHOUT SERIOUSLY DISRUPTING FAMILY LIFE AND THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF ITS FAMILY MEMBERS.+

MR HU URGED THAT MORE SHOULD BE DONE BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR IN THIS RESPECT, POINTING OUT THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF ELDERLY AND MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR MANY YEARS AND CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT ANY LONGER,

ANOTHER AREA WHERE HE THOUGHT IMPROVEMENT SHOULD BE MADE CONCERNED THE TREATMENT OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

+THE RESOURCES ALLOCATED TO THE PROGRAMME OF 'SERVICES FOR OFFENDERS' IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE CONTEXT IS VERY MEAGRE ALTHOUGH IT IS APPRECIATED THAT MUCH IS BEING DONE BY OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND EFFORTS ARE ALSO BEING MADE TO TACKLE THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES IN THE FORM OF PREVENTIVE WORK.

+HOWEVER, IT SEEMS A GOOD DEAL MORE CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH SOCIAL WORK SERVICES IN THE AREA OF TREATMENT.

+THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVING OUR PROBATION SERVICE AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

+OTHER METHODS AND TECHNIQUES OF TREATMENT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED, DEVELOPED AND EXPERIMENTED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO CATER FOR THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF OFFENDERS, HE SAID.

ON THE SHORTAGE OF TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS, MR HU SUGGESTED THAT A SPECIAL PROVISION BE MADE TO THE SOCIAL WORK TRAINING FUND FOR RE-ALLOCATION TO VARIOUS TRAINING INSTITUTIONS TO RUN A SPECIAL TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS.

BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE PLANNING OF THESE PROGRAMMES AND CONTRIBUTE RESOURCES IN

TERMS OF TEACHERS, SUPERVISORS AND FIELD WORK PLACEMENT.

+AT THE END OF THE PER FOD, THE MANPOWER NEED SHOULD BE RE-ASSESSED, HE SAID.

THE PROGRAMMES