XN000022-1983-05-02 — Page 8

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MONDAY, MAY 2, 1983

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MORE HOSTELS FOR ELDERLY PLANNED

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SOME 2 300 ADDITIONAL HOSTEL PLACES FOR THE ELDERLY WILL BE AVAILABLE IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES DURING THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS PLANNING TO PROVIDE ONE SUCH HOSTEL IN EVERY PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE WITH OVER 3 000 UNITS.

MR CHAMBERS WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT WOMEN'S WELFARE CLUB'S WONG FUNG TING HOSTEL FOR THE ELDERLY AT CHOI YUEN ESTATE, SHEUNG SHUI.

REFERRING TO THE GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO BUY ABOUT 150 FLATS IN VARIOUS PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS FOR HOUSING .700 OLD PEOPLE IN URGENT NEED OF ACCOMMODATION, HE STRESSED THAT THIS SCHEME WOULD BE SUITABLE MAINLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL FIT AND ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN DAILY LIVING NEEDS.+

+THERE WILL STILL BE A NEED FOR MORE HOSTELS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WHICH ARE INTENDED TO HOUSE THOSE WHO NEED LIMITED ASSISTANCE IN PERSONAL CARE, THE GENERAL SUPERVISION OF HEALTH CARE AND THE ORGANISATION OF SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMES,+ HE SAID.

THE NEW HOSTEL, WHICH WILL HOUSE 116 ELDERLY PEOPLE, HAS BEEN DECORATED AND FURNISHED TO A HIGH STANDARD. MEALS ARE PROVIDED AND ASSISTANCE GIVEN WITH HOUSEHOLD CHORES AND LAUNDRY.

ITS ESTABLISHMENT HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY AN $800 000 DONATION FROM MADAM WONG FUNG-TING AND OTHER DONATIONS FROM FRIENDS AND MEMBERS OF THE WOMEN'S CLUB.

+AS THE NUMBER OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY INCREASES, THERE WILL BE A CORRESPONDING DEMAND FOR BOTH COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES AND RESIDENTIAL CARE, MR CHAMBERS SAID.

HE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE CLUB FOR MAKING A MOST VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION IN THESE AREAS.

APART FROM THE HOSTEL FOR THE ELDERLY, OTHER COMMUNITY FACILITIES IN CHOI YUEN ESTATE INCLUDE A NURSERY, A CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE AND A SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY.

THE ESTATE HAS SIX RENTAL BLOCKS WITH 5 082 FLATS PROVIDING HOMES FOR MORE THAN 23 000 PEOPLE. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE EIGHT HOME OWNERSHIP BLOCKS, HOUSING SOME 5 000 PEOPLE.

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