XN000022-1982-01-15 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1982

MORE EFFORTS ON SHELTERED WORKSHOPS URGED

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THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WERE URGED TODAY (FRIDAY) TO PUT GREATER EFFORTS INTO SETTING UP SPECIAL WORKSHOPS WHERE THE SEVERELY DISABLED CAN PERFORM SATISFYING JOBS AT A PACE SUITABLE FOR THEIR LIMITED POTENTIAL.

THE CALL CAME FROM DR HARRY FANG, MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, AT THE OPENING OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S PAK TIN SHELTERED WORKSHOP IN UPPER PAK TIN ESTATE, SHAM SHUI PO.

DR FANG ALSO CALLED FOR THE CO-OPERATION OF INDUSTRIALISTS.

+FOR, WITHOUT THEIR EXPERTISE IN THE INDUSTRIAL FIELD, SUPPLY OF RAW MATERIALS, ORDERS AND SALES OUTLETS, NO WORKSHOP CAN FUNCTION EFFICIENTLY, HE SAID.

DR FANG SAID HONG KONG DEPENDED ON EXPORT MARKETS AND HONG KONG PRODUCTS WERE NOTED FOR HIGH QUALITY AND COMPETITIVENESS IN THE WORLD MARKET.

+OUR DISABLED WORK FORCE, UNDER SUITABLE GUIDANCE, POSSESSES THAT SAME HIGH LEVEL OF SKILL WHICH IMPRESSES SO MANY COUNTRIES, + HE SAID.

DR FANG DESCRIBED THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE DISABLED AS +THE ULTIMATE TEST OF REHABILITATION.+

HE SAID HE WAS HEARTENED TO SEE THAT MANY EMPLOYERS HAD COME TO REALISE THE POTENTIAL OF THE DISABLED WORKERS AND HAD HAPPILY ACCEPTED THEM INTO THEIR FIRMS AND FACTORIES.

MORE AND MORE DISABLED PEOPLE ARE IN ORDINARY COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SETTINGS, WORKING SUCCESSFULLY SIDE BY SIDE WITH ORDINARY MEMBERS OF THE WORK FORCE. BUT THERE ARE MANY DISABLED PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM DISABILITIES TOO SEVERE FOR THEM TO WORK IN A NORMAL WORKING ENVIRONMENT.

+FOR THESE PEOPLE, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SEE THAT SPECIAL WORKSHOPS ARE SET UP FÖR THEM AND THAT A WIDE VARIETY OF INTERESTING AND SUITABLE OCCUPATIONS IS PROVIDED, DR FANG SAID.

IT IS THE RIGHT OF EVERY ADULT TO ENJOY THE DIGNITY OF WORK, + HE ADDED.

DR FANG DESCRIBED THE REHABILITATION OF THE DISABLED AS →PERMANENT COMMITMENT.+

THE HUST