XN000022-1984-06-16 — Page 3

SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1984

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THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY, HE SAID, WAS TO ENABLE ELDERLY PEOPLE TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, EITHER INDEPENDENTLY OR WITH THE IR FAMILIES, FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

+TO THIS END WE PROVIDE SERVICES SUCH AS COMMUNITY NURSING, HOME HELP, SOCIAL CENTRES AND DAY CENTRES AS WELL AS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCÉ, HE SAID.

+

+WE ALSO HAVE A VARIETY OF FORMS OF HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY, FROM SHELTERED HOUSING AND HOSTELS FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES, TO CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO MANAGE WITHOUT REGULAR PERSONAL AND NURSING CARE.+

THE THEME FOR THE SIXTH MENTAL HEALTH WEEK IS +MENTAL HEALTH AND OLD AGE.+

THE PROGRAMME FOR THE COMING WEEK PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE BACKGROUND TO HONG KONG'S EFFORTS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY.

IT EXAMINES NOT ONLY THE BIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC ASPECTS OF AGING BUT ALSO THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT, AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE TO MEET THE CHALLENGE POSED BY THE INCREASING NUMBERS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.

+ IT IS ALWAYS A SALUTARY EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE DETAILS OF PLANNING AND PROVIDING PARTICULAR SERVICES TO STAND BACK OCCASIONALLY AND SEE THEIR EFFORTS IN A WIDER PERSPECTIVE, MR CHAMBERS SAID.

THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THIS WEEK'S PROGRAMME WOULD BENEFIT CONSIDERABLY FROM IT, HE ADDED.

HE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION FOR ITS WORK OVER THE YEARS TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH HE SAID WAS +JUST AS IMPORTANT AS PHYSICAL HEALTH+ IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SUCCESSFUL AND CONTENTED SOCIETY.

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BEACH-GOERS WARNED AGAINST ILLEGAL CAMPING

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CAMPING AT ALL THE 29 GAZETTED BEACHES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND ON OUTLYING ISLANDS IS AN OFFENCE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT WARNED TODAY.

OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE TO A FINE OF $500 AND TWO WEEKS' IMPRISONMENT, HE SAID.

SIXTY-NINE OFFENDERS WERE BROUGHT TO COURT LAST YEAR AND WERE FINED A TOTAL OF $8 000.

/ACTION AGAINST