XN000022-1983-06-29 — Page 34

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1983

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A NEW DEVELOPMENT IS THE +GOLD COIN+ SHELTERED HOUSING SCHEME, WHICH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL START OPERATING IN AUGUST.

THIS SCHEME CONSISTS OF 80 FLATS IN A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT IN SHA TIN, WHICH ARE BEING BOUGHT AND FURNISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

THE OCCUPANTS WILL BE LIKE NORMAL TENANTS, BUT THERE WILL BE A SMALL STAFF ACTING AS LIAISON OFFICERS AND PROVIDING HELP.

RENTS WILL BE SUBSIDISED TO KEEP THEM WITHIN THE MEANS OF THE LESS WELL-OFF.

+THIS SCHEME HAS GREAT POTENTIAL, AND IF IT PROVES SUCCESSFUL WE PLAN TO PROVIDE MORE SUCH ACCOMMODATION ELSEWHERE,+ MR CHAMBERS SAID.

TURNING TO INSTITUTIONAL CARE, HE SAID THAT EVEN IN THIS AREA THERE WAS ROOM FOR A VARIETY OF TYPES OF FACILITIES, INCLUDING HOSTELS WHERE MEALS WERE PROVIDED, TRADITIONAL OLD-AGE HOMES AND CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES.

HE SAID THE NEED FOR CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES WAS THE GREATEST. AT PRESENT THERE ARE ONLY 500 PLACES IN THIS TYPE OF HOME, AGAINST A WAITING LIST OF MORE THAN 3 400.

+BUT THIS YEAR WILL SEE THE BEGINNING OF A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION- THREE NEW HOMES WILL BE OPENED, DOUBLING THE NUMBER OF PLACES, AND BY 1986 WE SHOULD HAVE A TOTAL OF 2 500 PLACES, HE SAID.

THIS RAPID INCREASE, MR CHAMBERS SAID, WAS LARGELY DUE TO THE GENEROUS WAY IN WHICH ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS THE TUNG WAH GROUP HAD RESPONDED TO THE PLANS DRAWN UP BY THE GOVERNMENT.

TUNG WAH WAS IN FACT THE SINGLE BIGGEST PROVIDER OF RESIDENTIAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, HE SAID.

+WHEN ALL ITS PRESENT PLANS HAVE COME TO FRUITION, THE GROUP WILL PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION FOR 1 800 ELDERLY PEOPLE, HE ADDED.

REFERRING TO THE GOVERNMENT'S PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME AND OLD-AGE ALLOWANCE, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT THESE WERE NOT CONTRIBUTORY SOCIAL SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS OF THE TYPE FOUND IN MOST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.

+BUT THEY DO AT LEAST ENSURE THAT THE INCOME OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IS SUPPORTED AT A LEVEL WHICH WILL ENABLE THEM TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE IF MODEST STANDARD OF LIVING.

+AN ELDERLY COUPLE WITHOUT OTHER MEANS OF SUPPORT CAN NOW RECEIVE UP TO $1 500 A MONTH FROM THIS SOURCE, HE SAID.

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