XN000022-1986-04-09 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1986

+FOUR MORE CHINESE LAWYERS ARE EXPECTED TO JOIN THE DIVISION IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO. A FURTHER NINE SENIOR CHINESE LANGUAGE

CERS ARE LIKELY TO BE RECRUITED DURING THIS SUMMER, HE SAID.

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MR THOMAS SAID IT WAS HOPED THAT THESE NUMBERS WOULD BE FICIENT TO ENABLE THE DIVISION TO BEGIN THE WORK OF BILINGUAL LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING AND TRANSLATION IN THE NEXT SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

WHETHER THEY WOULD PROVE SUFFICIENT FOR THE FUTURE, MR THOMAS SAID, IT WAS TOO EARLY TO SAY. HE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT NEW GROUND WAS BEING BROKEN AND THERE WERE MANY ISSUES THAT HAD TO BE RESOLVED.

GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR ELDERLY TO GET DENTAL TREATMENT

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SPECIAL GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO MEET THE COST OF DENTURES AND FILLINGS AND THAT WAS THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY OF ASSISTING ELDERLY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO GET DENTAL TREATMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP ON WHETHER GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER EXTENDING THE DENTAL THERAPISTS SCHEME TO ELDERLY PERSONS, MR CHAMBERS SAID: +THE ELDERLY FREQUENTLY NEED CURATIVE DENTAL TREATMENT OF A KIND WHICH DENTAL THERAPISTS ARE NOT TRAINED TO PROVIDE.+

THE DENTAL THERAPISTS SCHEME WAS AIMED AT PROVIDING A PREVENTIVE DENTAL CONSERVATION SERVICE TO PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO WERE AT AN AGE WHEN MAXIMUM BENEFIT COULD BE DERIVED FROM SUCH A SERVICE.

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