XN000022-1982-10-15 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1982

WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES PROVIDED FOR ELDERLY

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THE NEED TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY WAS EMPHASISED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR IAN MACPHERSON, WHEN HE OPENED THE 17TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE HONG KONG JAYCEES.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD FORMULATED POLICIES TO PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, INCLUDING HOUSING, MEDICAL, EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL SECURITY, LEISURE AND WELFARE SERVICES.

+1 AM GLAD TO SAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT ALONE IN THIS TASK. VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND SERVICE ORGANISATIONS, LIKE YOURSELVES, HAVE ALSO PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY.

+BUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE ONLY REPRESENTS THE BEGINNING. THERE IS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO IF WE ARE TO CATER FOR EVERYBODY WHO NEEDS HELP. +

MR MACPHERSON PRAISED THE JAYCEES' CHOICE OF THE ELDERLY AS THE IR TARGET OF SERVICE FOR 1982 AS A WISE ONE, +ONE WHICH IS EMINENTLY SUITABLE IN THE PRESENT STAGE OF HONG KONG'S DEVELOPMENT.+

+TWO OR THREE DECADES AGO, THE PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY WAS NOT SUCH A HIGH PRIORITY. THE CONCEPT OF THE EXTENDED FAMILY WAS STILL ALIVE AT THAT TIME AND ONE COULD STILL RELY ON THE TIME HONOURED BELIEF THAT CHILDREN ARE THE INSURANCE OF ONE'S OLD AGE'.

+SINCE THEN, THE CONCEPT OF VALUES, THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT HAVE UNDERGONE DRASTIC CHANGES.+

THE SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT APART FROM PEOPLE'S THINKING, CHANGES IN THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT ALSO HASTENED THE DEMISE OF THE EXTENDED FAMILY SYSTEM, AND IT WAS PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR MARRIED CHILDREN TO CONTINUE TO STAY TOGETHER IN THE FAMILY HOME.

+SO NOW WE HAVE SMALLER FAMILY UNITS WHICH NO LONGER EVOLVE AROUND THE PARENT FAMILY, THIS FACT, COUPLED WITH THE EROSION OF THE BELIEF THAT 'CHILDREN ARE THE INSURANCE OF ONE'S OLD AGE' HAS RESULTED IN THE YOUNGER GENERATION LOOKING TO THEIR OWN FAMILY UNIT AS THE NUCLEUS OF THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE, AND TO A DISTANCING FROM THE IR OWN PARENTS.+

HE NOTED THAT IN HONG KONG TODAY THERE WERE ABOUT HALF A MILLION PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 60. SOME OF THEM PROBABLY QUITE WELL OFF IN THE IR OWN RIGHT AND OTHERS LOOKED AFTER BY THEIR CHILDREN WHO HAD THE CAPABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO DO SO.

/+BUT A