XN000022-1983-06-23 — Page 14

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THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1983

YET OTHERS NEED RESIDENTIAL CARE OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER, ALTHOUGH IT IS CLEARLY DESIRABLE TO HELP ELDERLY PEOPLE TO REMAIN ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

+THE SERVICES WHICH ARE PROVIDED LARGELY THROUGH VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WITH THE HELP OF GOVERNMENT SUBVENTIONS AND LOTTERIES FUND GRANTS AIM TO SUPPLY AN APPROPRIATE MIX OF DAY CARE AND RESIDENTIAL SERVICES,+ MR CHAMBERS SAID.

THE DIRECTOR SAID THE CHINESE HAD FOR MANY CENTURIES A TRADITION OF CARING FOR THE ELDERLY WITHIN THE FAMILY,

+ IT IS SAD THAT THIS TRADITION HAS TO SOME EXTENT BEEN

A CASUALTY OF THE RAPID URBANISATION OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.

+WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS; SIMILAR DEVELOPMENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN OTHER COUNTRIES. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO TRY TO MAINTAIN THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE VIRTUES OF FILIAL PIETY AND RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY.+

IT MIGHT NO LONGER BE POSSIBLE FOR MANY FAMILIES TO KEEP THE OLDER GENERATION ACTUALLY LIVING WITH THEM, BUT THAT DID NOT MEAN THAT THESE ELDERLY PEOPLE COULD NOT BE JUST AS WELL CARED FOR, MR CHAMBERS SAID.

REFERRING TO SHAM SHUI PO, THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT THE DISTRICT WAS IN ONE RESPECT FORTUNATE AMONG THE OLDER URBAN AREAS IN THAT IT HAD A FAIR SHARE OF WELFARE SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY.

AT PRESENT THERE ARE IN THE DISTRICT THREE HOMES AND HOSTELS FOR THE ELDERLY, AND SEVEN SOCIAL AND RECREATION CENTRES. THERE IS ALSO ONE MULTI-SERVICE CENTRE RUN BY CARITAS.

IN ADDITION, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF AGENCIES PROVIDING CASEWORK, COUNSELLING AND HOME HELP SERVICES.

MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT WITH THE ADDITION OF THE NEW SOCIAL CENTRE AND HOSTEL, A FULL RANGE OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY WOULD IN FUTURE BÉ PROVIDED BY CARITAS IN THE DISTRICT.

+THIS REFLECTS THE FINE CREATIVE TRADITION BUILT UP BY CARITAS DURING ITS 26 YEARS OF SERVICE IN HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.

PUBLIC NOW MORE CONCERNED ABOUT ELDERLY

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THE COMMUNITY WAS MORE AWARE OF THE NEEDS OF OLD PEOPLE, AND THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD WAS VERY KEEN IN SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES ORGANISED FOR THEM BY LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS, THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, MR ADOLF HSU, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE FOURTH TERM OFFICE-BEARERS OF THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OLD PEOPLE SERVICE PROMOTION COMMITTEE, MR HSU SAID THE COMMUNITY WAS VERY ACTIVE IN IMPROVING THE LIVELIHOOD AND PROMOTING MEDICAL AND WELFARE SERVICES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE.

HE SAID THERE