XN000022-1981-10-12 — Page 5

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1981

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+ALTHOUGH THE REHABUS SERVICE MEETS NEARLY ALL OF THE CRITERIA COVERING THE NEEDS OF TRANSPORT FOR THE DISABLED, IN THE ONE RESPECT IT CAN BE FAULTED, MR LEEDS SAID.

+THIS IS BECAUSE IT STILL SEGREGATES DISABLED PERSONS FROM OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, AND IT IS THIS SEGREGATION ARGUMENT THAT IS USED TO SUPPORT THE VIEW THAT ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORT SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO DISABLED PERSONS.

+ IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE SENSIBLE SOLUTION TO THIS IS NOT TO MAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORT UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE. BECAUSE IN TERMS OF COSTS THIS IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE, BUT TO MAKE THE SPECIAL SERVICES PROVIDED FOR DISABLED PERSONS ACCESSIBLE TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.+

+THERE IS NO GOOD REASON WHY SPARE SEATS ON A DISABLED PERSON'S SERVICE SHOULD NOT BE OCCUPIED BY AN ABLE-BODIED PERSON WHO HAPPENS TO BE GOING THE SAME WAY.+

+THIS WOULD GIVE THE NECESSARY DE-SEGREGATION AND WOULD ALSO ADD TO REVENUE.+

+THERE ARE ALREADY SCHEDULED MAXICAB LIGHT BUS ROUTES AS PART OF OUR TRANSPORT SYSTEM AND A WIDER SPREAD OF REHABUS SERVICES OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BUT WITH PRIORITY FOR THE DISABLED, WOULD BRING BENEFITS TO ALL, HE SAID.

OUTDOOR CAMPS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

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FOUR SCHOOLS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL PROVIDE PREMISES AS OUTDOOR EDUCATION CAMP-SITES FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS DURING WEEKENDS AND SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.

THEY ARE TUNG CHUNG PUBLIC SCHOOL ON LANTAU, KIAO LO WAN FISHERMEN'S SCHOOL IN SAI KUNG NORTH, TAI MEI TUK PUBLIC SCHOOL IN TAI PO, AND PUT CHOI SCHOOL IN SAI KUNG.

EACH OF THE CAMP-SITES CAN ACCOMMODATE 30 CAMPERS WHO ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE AND COOK THEIR OWN MEALS.

+FIVE DOUBLE-SEATER AND ONE SINGLE-SEATER CANOES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE THREE SCHOOLS ! SAI KUNG AND TAI PO, AND CAMPERS WITH QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS MAY APPLY FOR THE USE OF THESE CANOES,← AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

EXTRA CAMPING EQUIPMENT SUCH AS COMPASSES, RUCKSACKS, LIGHT WEIGHT TENTS AND SLEEPING BAGS ARE AVAILABLE FOR LOAN FROM THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID,

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND RESERVATION, SCHOOLS CAN CONTACT MR CHIU KAM-PING OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S PHYSICAL EDUCATION SECTION, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 6TH FLOOR, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON, OR ON 3-884111 EXT. 277.

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