XN000022-1985-04-17 — Page 36

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985

HE SAID THAT THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE HAD BEEN MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANNING TO MEET THE SHORTFALLS IN THE VARIOUS TYPES OF GROUP ACCOMMODATION FOR THE ELDERLY, AND FOR ENSURING THAT A PROPER INTEGRATION OF FACILITIES WAS ACHIEVED.

AND SHE HAD BEEN ASKED TO REVIEW THE PLANNING STANDARDS FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF GROUP ACCOMMODATION FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE LIGHT OF CURRENT DEMAND.

THE PRIMARY AIM, MR CHAMBERS SAID, WAS TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT WOULD ENABLE ELDERLY PEOPLE TO RETAIN THEIR SELF-RESPECT AND TO REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

THE PRIME NEED WAS OF COURSE FINANCIAL AND ONE OF THE MAIN TASKS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM WAS TO ENSURE THAT SUCH PEOPLE HAD SUFFICIENT INCOME TO MAINTAIN A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING, HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT 63 PER CENT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS WERE OVER 60 YEARS OF AGE. A FURTHER 211 000 PEOPLE RECEIVED THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE, REPRESENTING 84 PER CENT OF ALL THOSE AGED 70 OR OVER.

AT PRESENT 11.3 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION ARE AGED OVER 60 AND THIS PROPORTION WAS EXPECTED TO GROW TO 13.4 PER CENT BY 1994.

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MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL HOUSING OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO WERE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 60 WHOSE INCOME WAS BELOW THE HOUSING AUTHORITY LIMIT, WHO WERE IN NEED OF HOUSING, AND WERE CAPABLE OF LOOKING AFTER THEMSELVES, WERE ELIGIBLE FOR ACCOMMODATION UNDER THE GOLD COIN HOUSING SCHEME OPERATED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

ABOUT 600 PEOPLE HAD ALREADY BEEN HOUSED IN 103 SHARED FLATS IN SHA TIN AND WAN CHAI AND THE SCHEME MIGHT BE EXPANDED WHEN OTHER SUITABLE PREMISES COULD BE LOCATED, HE POINTED OUT.

A FURTHER CATEGORY OF ACCOMMODATION FOR THE ELDERLY CONSISTED OF THE HOSTELS OPERATED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, HE SAID.

FOR THOSE LESS ABLE TO LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES THERE WERE HOMES FOR THE AGED.

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THERE WERE