XN000022-1984-03-09 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, MARCH 9. 1984

+QUITE RIGHTLY, THEREFORE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACKNOWLEDGED ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO MEET, IN FULL, THE COST OF THESE VITAL SERVICES,+ SHE SAID. WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHOWS ITS WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO MEET ITS PLANNING OBJECTIVES, THIS SHOULD BE GIVEN EVERY ENCOURAGEMENT AND RECOGNITION. +

MRS BOSHER NOTED THAT ORIGINALLY SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY WERE INTENDED TO CATER ONLY FOR THE RECREATIONAL NEEDS OF OLD PEOPLE.

+HOWEVER THIS OBJECTIVE HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN BROADENED TO GIVE THEM A WIDER ROLE, SHE SAID.

UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS, SOCIAL CENTRES NOW PROVIDE A RANGE OF CAREFULLY BALANCED PROGRAMMES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL CONTACT AND FRIENDSHIP AND ALSO TO ENCOURAGE OLD PEOPLE TO REMAIN SOCIALLY AWARE AND INVOLVED IN THE LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY,

INFORMAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION IS ALSO PROVIDED IN MANY CENTRES.

THE LAI KING BAPTIST CHURCH BRADBURY SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY WAS BUILT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A DONATION FROM THE BRADBURY TRUST FUND, WHICH HAS MET IN FULL THE CAPITAL COSTS OF FITTING OUT AND FURNISHING THE CENTRE.

SOME 70 PER CENT OF THE RECURRENT OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE CENTRE ARE PROVIDED FROM GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION THROUGH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE BALANCE WILL BE RAISED BY THE SPONSORING AGENCY.

HIGHWAY CODE TO GUIDE ALL ROAD USERS

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THE GOVERNMENT IS REVISING THE HIGHWAY CODE TO INCLUDE GUIDANCE FOR ALL USERS OF THE ROAD - PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS AND PASSENGERS AS WELL AS MOTORISTS.

AS A FIRST STEP AND TO HIGHLIGHT THIS CHANGE IN EMPHASIS, THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES THAT THE HIGHWAY CODE SHOULD BE RE-NAMED THE ROAD USERS' CODE+.

THIS CHANGE IN THE ENGLISH TITLE IS PROVIDED FOR IN THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (MARCH 9). THE TITLE IN CHINESE ALREADY REFLECTS THE CONCEPT OF GIVING GUIDANCE TO ALL ROAD USERS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF REVISING THE PRESENT CODE, WHICH IS ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ADDRESSED TO DRIVERS, IS TO IMPROVE SAFETY ON THE ROAD. THEREFORE THE REVISED CODE WOULD INCLUDE CHAPTERS FOR PEDESTRIANS, PASSENGERS. CYCLISTS AND PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN. IT WILL ALSO REFLECT THE PROVISIONS OF THE NEW ROAD TRAFFIC LEGISLATION WHICH WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN AUGUST 1984.

/THE SPOKESMAN