XN000022-1981-09-10 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1981

THE WATER STORAGE POSITION WAS NOT SATISFACTORY, MR TUCKER SAID, AND THE DESALTER'S CONTRIBUTION TO HONG KONG'S OVERALL RESOURCES WOULD ENABLE A BETTER LEVEL OF SUPPLY TO BE MAINTAINED IN THE COMING DRY SEASON.

A DECISION ON THE LEVEL OF SUPPLY TO BE MAINTAINED IN THE COMING DRY SEASON WOULD BE MADE BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

AT 9 AM TODAY, HONG KONG'S RESERVOIRS HELD 261.47 MILLION CUBIC METRES, REPRÉSENTING 45.2 PER CENT OF CAPACITY. THIS TIME LAST YEAR, THE RESERVOIRS HELD 399.4 MILLION CUBIC METRES, OR 69.1 PER CENT.

MR TUCKER REPEATED HIS APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO CONSERVE WATER AND AVOID WASTE.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR BLIND

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THE GOVERNMENT IS SUPPORTING A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES FOR THE BLIND APART FROM RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.

HE WAS COMMENTING ON PRESS REPORTS OF CRITICISMS MADE BY THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND OF THE GOVERNMENT'S SUBVENTION POLICY FOR THE BLIND.

+A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES RUN BY ANOTHER AGENCY, THE SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND, INCLUDING BRAILLING, MOBILITY TRAINING, TUTORING, LIBRARY SERVICE AND SHELTERED WORKSHOPS, ARE SUBVENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

COUNSELLING IS PROVIDED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT'S NETWORK OF FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES AND THOSE RUN BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

ALTHOUGH BLINDNESS IN ITSELF IS NOT CONSIDERED A REASON FOR PLACEMENT IN A SEGREGATED RESIDENTIAL SETTING, THERE ARE PROVISIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES FOR SOME AGED BLIND AND BLIND CHILDREN.

A WIDE VARIETY OF RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE BLIND IS PROVIDED BY SOCIAL CLUBS AND CENTRES RUN BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

IN THE AREA OF EMPLOYMENT, ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED TO THE BLIND THROUGH THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

+ IT IS THEREFORE APPROPRIATE TO SAY THAT THE NEEDS OF THE BLIND ARE BEING MET THROUGH VARIOUS SERVICES OTHER THAN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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