XN000022-1982-03-25 — Page 3

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1982

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DR FANG ALSO CALLED FOR SOME STREAMLINING OF RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE AREAS OF HOUSING AND TRANSPORT FOR THE DISABLED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THEY OBTAIN THE REQUIRED SERVICES IN THE MOST SPEEDY AND EFFICIENT MANNER.

HE POINTED OUT THAT AT PRESENT WHEN A DISABLED PERSON HAS ACQUIRED A HOUSING UNIT, IT IS THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WHICH MAKES THE EXTERNAL MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE ACCESS WHILE ALL INTERIOR MODIFICATIONS TO THE DOORWAY AND UTILITY AREAS ARE ORGANISED AND FUNDED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

THIS RESULTS IN UNNECESSARY DELAYS, HE SAID.

+1 SEE NO REASON WHY HOUSING FOR THE DISABLED SHOULD NOT BE INTEGRATED WITH THE NORMAL HOUSING PROGRAMME AND BE MADE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND SO RECOMMEND, DR FANG SAID.

AS FOR TRANSPORT, HE SAID, REHABUS WHICH IS ALSO FUNDED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, IS THE ONLY MEANS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT FOR THE SEVERELY HANDICAPPED FROM THEIR HOMES TO THEIR PLACES OF WORK.

HE THOUGHT THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SHOULD ASSUME THIS RESPONSIBILITY IN THE SAME WAY AS THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER ADMINISTRATION OF THE STUDENT SUBSIDY SCHEME.

COMMENTING ON THE AGING POPULATION IN HONG KONG, DR FANG NOTED THAT DUE TO GREATLY IMPROVED STANDARDS OF HEALTH AND LIVING, MEN NOW HAVE AN AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF ABOUT 70 WHILE WOMEN HAVE AN EVEN LONGER EXPECTANCY OF OVER 76.

HE AGREED THAT HONG KONG HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES IN DEVELOPING AND IMPROVING SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY BUT FELT THAT THERE REMAIN LARGE SHORTFALLS, PARTICULARLY IN RESIDENTIAL SERVICES.

+WE MUST EMPHASISE AND RE-EMPHASISE THE CONCEPT OF KEEPING OUR SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

+THIS MEANS PROVIDING MORE SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO LOOK AFTER THEIR ELDERLY MEMBERS.

TO ACHIEVE THIS AIM, DR FANG SUGGESTED THAT IN ALLOCATING PUBLIC HOUSING, ADDITIONAL POINTS MIGHT BE AWARDED TO THOSE FAMILIES WHO ARE PREPARED TO LIVE WITH AND LOOK AFTER THE IR ELDERLY MEMBERS. ALTERNATIVELY THEY MIGHT BE ALLOWED TO CHOOSE FLATS IN MORE ACCESSIBLE LOCATIONS.

HE ALSO CONSIDERED THAT EXPANSION OF DAY CARE CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY SHOULD BE GIVEN PRIORITY TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR HARD PRESSED FAMILIES WHO WOULD OTHERWISE CHOOSE THE LESS DESIRABLE ALTERNATIVE OF CONSIGNING THEIR ELDERLY MEMBERS TO RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS.

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