XN000022-1983-09-29 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1983

+I'VE FOUND IT OF GREAT VALUE TO BE DOWN IN HONG KONG MEETING THE MINISTER OF STATE, MR LUCE, AND OF COURSE THE GOVERNOR, HE SAID.

AS REGARDS HIS FUTURE APPOINTMENTS, HE SAID THAT HE WAS VERY HAPPY THAT EVEN AFTER RETIRING HE WOULD STILL BE IN VERY CLOSE TOUCH WITH HONG KONG MATTERS AND BE ABLE TO DO A LITTLE BIT TO BRING ABOUT A SUCCESSFUL SETTLEMENT.

SIR PERCY HAS BEEN GIVEN THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ADVISER ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AT 10 DOWNING STREET, AS WELL AS A SPECIAL APPOINTMENT IN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, AS DEPUTY UNDER-SECRETARY WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

HE SAID HE WAS VERY HONOURED AND WOULD BE DOING HIS BEST.

GOVERNOR STRESSES PLANNING FOR FUTURE NEEDS ******

THE HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY SCHEME WAS AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE PLANNING FOR FUTURE NEEDS, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

SIR EDWARD WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE FIRST PHASE OF THE SCHEME AT CITY ONE, SHA TIN,

THIS PHASE ACCOMMODATES 480 PEOPLE IN 80 FULLY FURNISHED AND EQUIPPED FLATS IN CITY ONE.

+I AM SURE THAT THOSE WHO LIVE HERE WILL ENJOY THE SPACIOUS ENVIRONMENT OF SHA TIN NEW TOWN, WITH ITS MANY SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES,+ SIR EDWARD SAID.

AS A SECOND PHASE, 23 FLATS WERE BEING ACQUIRED IN WAN CHAI AND WOULD BE READY FOR OCCUPATION EARLY NEXT YEAR, HE SAID.

+MUCH HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN RECENT YEARS BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THE PROVISION OF WELFARE SERVICES FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.

+THESE INCLUDE CASH BENEFITS, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES AND INSTITUTIONAL CARE, SIR EDWARD POINTED OUT.

THE HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY SCHEME, HE ADDED, WOULD MAKE A FURTHER CONTRIBUTION TO THE EXISTING RANGE OF SERVICES.

IT SOUGHT TO ENABLE OLD PEOPLE IN GOOD PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY, AND TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY COULD FEND FOR THEMSELVES, SIR EDWARD SAID.

EARLIER, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, POINTED OUT THAT THE NEW SCHEME AIMED TO CATER FOR MUCH THE SAME GROUP OF ELDERLY PEOPLE AS THE HOSTELS, BUT IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF A PRIVATE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

/UNDER THIS