XN000022-1985-06-11 — Page 29

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TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 1985

THERE ARE ABOUT 1 000 PERSONS WHO ARE WHEELCHAIR BOUND AND WHO HAVE SEVERE WALKING DIFFICULTIES THAT PREVENT THEM FROM USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT, OTHER THAN TAXIS.

THE FIFTH RECOMMENDATION CONSISTED OF A SERIES OF IMPROVEMENTS TO EXISTING PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES, MAKING THEM MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE DISABLED, OF WHICH COURTESY TO THE DISABLED COMMUTERS WAS ONE.

+SADLY THERE IS NOT MUCH THAT CAN BE DONE WITH THE MTR WHICH, RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY, WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE SEVERELY PHYSICALLY DISABLED.

+WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS TO REALISE THAT IT IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO EXPAND THE OTHER AREAS OF SPECIAL TRANSPORT THAT I HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TRYING TO ENSURE THAT WE NEVER AGAIN PLACE OURSELVES IN A POSITION OF PLANNING A NEW TRANSPORT SYSTEM THAT IS NOT GEARED TO THE DISABLED, + MR LEWIS SAID.

THE KCRC, HE ADDED, SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR MAKING THE TUEN MUN LIGHT RAIL ACCESSIBLE TO THE DISABLED.

AND SIXTH, THE WORKING PARTY FELT THAT SOME PERIPHERAL SERVICES SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED.

CITING THE INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAMME AS AN EXAMPLE, MR LEWIS SAID THAT THIS PROGRAMME WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TEACHES THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED HOW TO IMPROVE THEIR TRAVEL SKILLS, SUCH AS CROSSING ROADS SAFELY AND TRAVELLING TO NEW DESTINATIONS, COULD BE EXPANDED.

AT THE SAME TIME THE ESCORT SERVICES, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY PROVIDED IN A MODEST MANNER UNDER THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S UNIFIED HOME HELP SERVICE, COULD ALSO BE PROVIDED UNDER THE AGENCY FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE. AS FOR THE BLIND, IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE MADE IN THE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING SERVICES.

MR LEWIS SAID ALL THESE PROPOSALS ARE NOW ONLY JUST BE ING FORMALLY SUBMITTED TO THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE WHICH ADVISES THE GOVERNMENT ON REHABILITATION MATTERS.

+ IT IS HOPED THAT THE GOVERNMENT, ON THE ADVICE OF THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE, WILL CONSIDER THE SUGGESTED AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT IN THE COMING MONTHS, + MR LEWIS SAID.

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