XN000022-1982-10-30 — Page 5

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 190

GUIDE FOR THE DISABLED

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A GUIDE TO PLACES IN HONG KONG WHICH ARE ACCESSIBLE TO PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN WHEELCHAIRS, HAS BEEN PUBLISHED FOR BOTH LOCAL PEOPLE AND VISITORS.

THE EASY-TO-FOLLOW PAMPHLET LISTS THE PLACES AND BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG WHERE PHYSICALLY DISABLED PEOPLE WILL HAVE LITTLE OR NO TROUBLE GAINING ACCESS.

IT IS THE FIRST SUCH GUIDE ISSUED IN HONG KONG, AND IS ALREADY IN DEMAND FROM THE MANY DISABLED VISITORS ARRIVING FOR THE FESPIC GAMES WHICH WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED BY THE DUKE OF KENT TOMORROW (SUNDAY).

THE PAMPHLET HAS TAKEN MONTHS OF CAREFUL PREPARATION BY MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG ACCESS COMMITTEE, AN ARM OF THE GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMMITTEE, DR RICHARD BUTLER, SAID THE GUIDE WOULD ENABLE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED VISITORS TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR STAY IN HONG KONG.

IT IS PRINTED IN THREE LANGUAGES - CHINESE, ENGLISH AND JAPANESE - AND IS BEING DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE HKTA, AIRLINES, CONSULATES AND VARIOUS BODIES AND AGENCIES DEALING WITH THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED.

+ IT IS ALSO OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO LOCAL DISABLED PEOPLE, SOME OF WHOM MAY NOT BE FULLY AWARE OF THE LARGE NUMBERS OF PLACES AND BUILDINGS WHICH ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THEM.

+MANY HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, PRIVATE DEVELOPERS AND, OF COURSE, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE URBAN COUNCIL HAVE MADE SPECIAL EFFORTS TO PROVIDE ACCESS AND THIS IS THE MOST UP-TO-DATE SUMMARY THAT WE CAN PROVIDE, DR BUTLER SAID.

AMONG THE PLACES ITEMISED, APART FROM HOTELS, RESTAURANTS ARE A CINEMA, CHURCHES, KAI TAK AND OTHER TRANSPORT FACILITIES SUCH AS THE KCR, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS OUTLETS, CULTURAL FACILITIES SUCH AS THE CITY HALL AND TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL AND THE BIG SHOPPING AND COMMERCIAL AREAS OF OCEAN TERMINAL AND OCEAN CENTRE.

FOR OVERSEAS VISITORS, THE PAMPHLET ALSO PROVIDES INFORMATION ON WHERE SPECIALISED FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED ARE AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG.

DR BUTLER SAID THAT THE COMMITTEE WAS MOST ANXIOUS TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO COULD ADD TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE GUIDE.

/+WE CARRIED