XN000022-1983-08-02 — Page 2

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1983

HOME CARE FOR ELDERLY ENCOURAGED

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THE GOVERNMENT AIMS TO PROVIDE A RANGE OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES AND CASH ASSISTANCE TO ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO CARE FOR THEIR ELDERLY MEMBERS IN THE HOME, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TONIGHT (TUESDAY).

SHE WAS SPEAKING AT THE CANTONESE OPERA PERFORMANCE ORGANISED BY THE ASIA WOMEN'S LEAGUE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR ITS PLANNED CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOME IN KOWLOON TONG.

MRS CHAN SAID THAT IN THE PAST TEN YEARS, HONG KONG'S SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES HAD UNDERGONE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN TERMS OF BOTH THE TYPES AND QUALITY OF SERVICES PROVIDED.

+TO COPE WITH THE INCREASING PROPORTION OF THE ELDERLY IN THE TOTAL POPULATION, THERE IS A NEED TO PROVIDE MORE AND BETTER SERVICES FOR THEM, SHE SAID.

+THE GOVERNMENT HAS SPARED NO EFFORT TO MEET THIS NEED AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ARE ALSO PLAYING A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THIS RESPECT.+

HONG KONG, MRS CHAN SAID, WAS FORTUNATE IN THAT THE FINE TRADITION OF RESPECT AND CARE FOR THE ELDERLY WAS DEEP-ROOTED HERE.

FOR THOSE ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO HAD NO FAMILY TO LOOK AFTER THEM OR WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY WERE INFIRM, THEY WOULD NEED INSTITUTIONAL CARE, MRS CHAN SAID.

SHE SAID THE ASIA WOMEN'S LEAGUE'S PLANNED CHAN KWAN-TUNG HOME FOR THE AGED WOULD MAKE A USEFUL CONTRIBUTION IN THIS AREA BY PROVIDING MORE PLACES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE REQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL CARE.

THE NEW PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A $2.5 MILLION DONATION BY MR CHAN KWAN-TUNG.

MRS CHAN PAID TRIBUTE TO MEMBERS OF THE LEAGUE FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN PROVIDING SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY.

WORKERS GOING OVERSEAS ADVISED ABOUT CONTRACTS

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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) REMINDED LOCAL MANUAL WORKERS WISHING TO TAKE UP OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT TO ENTER INTO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS WITH THEIR PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW TO PROTECT THEIR OWN INTEREST.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE CONTRACTS FOR OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, THE CONTRACTS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT'S OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT SERVICE FOR ATTESTATION BEFORE THE WORKERS GO ABROAD. DULY ATTESTED WRITTEN CONTRACTS WOULD NOT ONLY CLEARLY DEFINE THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES, BUT ALSO ENSURE THE REASONABLENESS OF THE TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT.

/ALL OVERSEAS