XN000022-1981-09-05 — Page 3

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1981

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HOUSE OF COMMONS SPEAKER VISITS N.T.

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THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, MR GEORGE THOMAS, WHO IS IN HONG KONG FOR A WEEK-LONG VISIT, TOURED SHA TIN New Town AND THE BORDER AREA TODAY (SATURDAY).

HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES,

MR DAVID AKERS-JONES.

IN SHA TIN, FROM A VANTAGE POINT AT SUI WO COURT, MR THOMAS WAS TOLD ABOUT MAJOR PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS, TOWN CENTR DEVELOPMENTS AND THE SHING MUN RIVER CLEAN-UP BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER, DR PATRICK HASE, AND THE PROJECT MANAGER, MR KENNETH KWOK. AFTER LUNCH AS GUEST OF MR AND MAS AKERS-JONES AT ISLAND HOUSE, MR THOMAS, ACCOMPANIED BY THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE 6TH QUEEN ELIZABETH'S OWN GURKHA RIFLES, LIEUTENANT COLONEL PAUL PETTIGREW, DROVE THROUGH PLOVER COVE, BRIDE'S POOL, LUK KENG, PING CHE AND TA KWU LING.

HE ALSO VISITED THE 6TH GURKHA RIFLES AT MAN KAM TO AND WAS BRIEFED BY COLONEL PETTIGREW ON BORDER SECURITY MEASURES.

MR THOMAS, WHO ARRIVED ON WEDNESDAY, IS STAYING AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

EMPHASIS OF CARE FOR THE ELDERLY STILL ON THE FAMILY

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THE EMPHASIS OF CARE FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE REGION IS STILL ON THE FAMILY AND ON KEEPING THE ELDERLY IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE CONCLUSIONS REACHED AT A RECENT REGIONAL MEETING ON HEALTH CARE FOR THE ELDERLY ORGANISED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION IN MANILA, SAID MR MUI KAN-KIT, ACTING CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER IN THE DEVELOPMENT BRANCH OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

MR MUI, WHO RETURNED TO HONG KONG AFTER ATTENDING THE MANILA CONFERENCE, SAID THE MEETING NOTED THAT IN RECENT YEARS, THERE HAD BEEN A ́+MARKED INCREASE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPOSITE FORMS OF CARE INCORPORATING ELEMENTS OF SELF OR FAMILY CARE WITH INSTITUTIONAL OR DAY-CARE SERVICES.+

HE SAID EXPERTS AT THE CONFERENCE AGREED THAT THE TREND WAS TO DECREASE THE GROWTH OF RESIDENTIAL CARE, BY SUBSTITUTING DOMICILIARY CARE.

COUNTRIES WITH DEEP-ROOTED SYSTEMS OF FAMILY UNITY SELDOM HAVE ORGANISED, PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED RESIDENTIAL SYSTEMS FOR THE ELDERLY THE RESPONSIBILITY STILL REMAINS WITH THE FAMILY.

IN CONTRAST, IN THE MORE INDUSTRIALISED SOCIETIES, ORGANISED AND OFFICIAL HELP FOR THE ELDERLY IS BECOMING MORE COMMON.

/EXPERTS AT