XN000022-1984-08-21 — Page 4

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1984

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PROVIDENT FUND FOR THE ELDERLY RECOMMENDED

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A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND SYSTEM SHOULD BE SET UP TO ENSURE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE ELDERLY.

THIS IS RECOMMENDED BY A STUDY ON THE NEEDS OF SENIOR CITIZENS IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN.

IT SAYS THE SYSTEM WILL HELP REDUCE DIRECT PAYMENTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO PAY TO ELDERLY PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASES IN FUTURE.

THE STUDY REPORT, MADE PUBLIC AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (TUESDAY), ALSO SUGGESTS THAT FOUR SOCIAL CENTRES AND A DAY-CARE CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY BE OPENED IN THE DISTRICT, PREFERABLY IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE EASTERN END OF KENNEDY TOWN AND THE WESTERN END OF SHEUNG WAN.

ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY, MOST OF THE ELDERLY IN THE DISTRICT USE BUS OR TRAM AS THE IR MAJOR MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. IT PROPOSES THAT SEATS BE DESIGNATED ON BUSES AND TRAMS AND THAT OFF-PEAK-HOUR CONCESSION FARES BE GIVEN TO OLD PEOPLE.

IT ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT THE HOUSING NEED OF SINGLE OLD PEOPLE AND ELDERLY COUPLES BE CONSIDERED IN REVIEWING THE PRESENT HOUSING POLICIES, AND GREATER EFFORT BE MADE TO PUBLICISE THE AVAILABILITY OF SOCIAL AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES.

SPEAKING AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD'S SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE, MR CHOW WAI-KEUNG, SAID THE SURVEY FINDINGS WOULD HELP PROMOTE THE WELL-BEING OF THE ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO ACCOUNT FOR ONE-EIGHTH OF THE DISTRICT'S TOTAL POPULATION.

SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED BY THE COMMITTEE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG,

ABOUT 700 PEOPLE AT THE AGE OF 60 AND ABOVE WERE INTERVIEWED BY MORE THAN 200 VOLUNTEERS AND SECONDARY AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.

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