XN000022-1984-03-09 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1984

ALSO PRESENT AT TODAY'S CEREMONY WERE THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR K.C. KWONG, AND THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR JIMMY HAYES,

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MORE SOCIAL CENTRES PLANNED FOR ELDERLY

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THE GOVERNMENT AIMS TO TRY AND OPEN 12 NEW SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY EACH YEAR, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE (DEVELOPMENT), MRS ELIZABETH BOSHER, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE LAI KING BAPTIST CHURCH

BRADBURY SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY, SHE SAID

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY WAS TO PROVIDE ONE SOCIAL CENTRE FOR EVERY 30 000 PEOPLE, ALTHOUGH THIS RATIO WAS APPLIED FLEXIBLY WHERE THE POPULATION WAS SCATTERED.

MOST SOCIAL CENTRES ARE IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES OR IN MULTI-SERVICE CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY, WHERE OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS CANTEENS, HOME HELP, DAY CARE AND COUNSELLING ARE PROVIDED.

THERE ARE NOW 87 SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY.

+WHAT IS REASSURING FOR US IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CO-ORDINATING THE EXPANSION OF THIS SERVICE, IS TO SEE SO MANY NEW WELFARE BODIES AND ASSOCIATIONS WILLING TO COME FORWARD TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE, MRS BOSHER SAID.

THERE ARE ALREADY 38 AGENCIES RUNNING SOCIAL CENTRES. THEY INCLUDE CHURCHES, VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES, KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS, WOMEN'S GROUPS AND OTHER LOCAL OR RELIGIOUS AFFILIATED ORGANISATIONS.

+IT SAYS A GREAT DEAL OF THE WILLINGNESS OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN PROVIDING FOR ITS OLD PEOPLE THAT THIS SERVICE CONTINUES TO ATTRACT SUCH A WIDE LEVEL OF SUPPORT AMONG SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS, MRS BOSHER SAID.

NOTING THAT SOCIAL CENTRES WERE NOT AMONG THE WELFARE SERVICES ATTRACTING 100 PER CENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT, MRS BOSHER SAID THIS HAD BEEN INTERPRETED BY SOME AS MEANING THAT THE GOVERNMENT LAID LESS IMPORTANCE ON THIS SERVICE THAN ON OTHER SERVICES FOR OLD PEOPLE.

SHE SAID THIS WAS A WRONG INTERPRETATION.

+A RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT MUST ESTABLISH PRIORITIES FOR THE ALLOCATION OF SCARCE RESOURCES AND IN SO DOING TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY OF THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT CERTAIN SERVICES MORE EASILY THAN OTHERS.+

SHE SAID MANY WELFARE SERVICES, PARTICULARLY THOSE REQUIRING THE BUILDING OF COSTLY FACILITIES AND A LARGE COMPLEMENT OF TRAINED STAFF TO OPERATE THEM, WERE BEYOND THE MEANS OF SMALL VOLUNTARY WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS.