XN000022-1982-11-11 — Page 17

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1982

ON PRE-SCHOOL TRAINING PLACES FOR THE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, MR HO SAID THE CAPACITY WOULD BE INCREASED BY 120 PLACES A YEAR.

PLANS ARE ALSO IN HAND TO INCREASE THE PROVISION OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING PLACES FOR MODERATELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED SCHOOL LEAVERS BY MORE THAN 100 PER CENT IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS FROM 676 TO 1 431 BY 1987-88, HE DISCLOSED,

PROVISION OF BOTH SHELTERED WORKSHOPS AND WORK ACTIVITY CENTRES IS ALSO BEING INCREASED, BY 300 PLACES EACH, HE ADDED.

MR HO REPORTED THAT ACTION WAS BEING TAKEN TO SEPARATE, WHEREVER POSSIBLE, GIRLS AND BOYS IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION FROM REMAND AND PROBATION CASES.

THE SEPARATION, HE EXPLAINED, WAS TO ALLEVIATE THE RISK OF CONTAMINATION BETWEEN THE OFFENDER AND THE NON-OFFENDER AND TO FACILITATE DEFINING THE GOALS OF TREATMENT, THE TIME SPAN, THE DEGREE OF SECURITY AND THE STYLE OF PROGRAMME.+

HE POINTED OUT THERE WAS A PARTICULAR PROBLEM ON THE TREATMENT OF GIRLS ON CARE AND PROTECTION ORDERS AS MANY OF THEM HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN +GIRLIE+ ESTABLISHMENTS.

*PRIORITY IS THEREFORE BEING GIVEN TO ESTABLISHING A PURPOSE- BUILT HOME IN A SECURE SETTING, WITH GRADATIONS OF SECURITY WITHIN THE HOME ITSELF, HE SAID.

SHELTERED HOUSING FOR ELDERLY

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THE GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO PURCHASE FLATS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO PROVIDE SHELTERED HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY WILL MAKE A SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTION TO REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE NOW ON WAITING LISTS FOR HOSTEL ACCOMMODATION IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON SELWYN ALLEYNE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).

UNDER THE PROPOSED SCHEME, SOME 700 ADDITIONAL PLACES WILL DE PROVIDED FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO, FOR WHATEVER REASON, ARE NOT ABLE TO LIVE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

MR ALLEYNE NOTED THAT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS IN HONG KONG OFTEN MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR OLD PEOPLE, WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF A FAMILY, TO AFFORD DECENT SELF-CONTAINED ACCOMMODATION.

+MANY OF THESE OLD PEOPLE ARE STILL IN GOOD HEALTH AND, WITH A MINIMUM OF SUPPORT, ARE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND IT IS FOR THIS GROUP, IN PARTICULAR, THAT THE PROVISION OF SHELTERED HOUSING IS APPROPRIATE AS OPPOSED TO MORE INSTITUTIONAL FORMS OF RESIDENTIAL CARE, HE SAID.

/ACCOMMODATION,