XN000022-1986-06-06 — Page 9

FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 1986

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MORE PROFESSIONALS NEEDED IN MENTAL HEALTH FIELD

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IT IS HOPED THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMMES ON MENTAL HEALTH WILL LEAD THE COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP A GREATER ACCEPTANCE OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL PROBLEMS AS WELL AS INSPIRE MORE PROFESSIONALS TO SPECIALISE IN THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE SEVENTH MENTAL HEALTH WEEK ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION, SHE SAID THAT MENTAL HEALTH HAD AN ESSENTIAL CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE IN ALL CARING PROFESSIONS.

SHE NOTED THAT EVEN THE MOST ENLIGHTENED COMMUNITIES STILL HARBOUR A GREAT DEAL OF MISCONCEPTION AND PREJUDICE AGAINST MENTAL ILLNESS.

THIS HAD IN TURN LED TO A SHORTAGE OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF SPECIALISING IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

MRS CHAN NOTED THAT THE NUMBER OF PERSONS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO SUFFERED FROM SOME FORM OF MENTAL PROBLEM WAS LARGER THAN THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.

+THE POTENTIAL NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP IS GREAT AND SO IS THE NEED FOR MORE DEDICATED AND QUALIFIED STAFF, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE REVISED MENTAL HEALTH ORDINANCE COMES INTO EFFECT.

+ ONE OF OUR MOST URGENT TASKS MUST BE TO AROUSE THE PROFESSIONAL INTEREST OF THE STAFF IN THIS FIELD, SO THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO ASPIRE TO SPECIALISED TRAINING AND IN THIS WAY UPGRADE THE QUALITY OF OUR SERVICE, SHE SAID.

$174.5 MILLION CONTRACT FOR TA! PO DEVELOPMENT

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A $174.5 MILLION CONTRACT WAS SIGNED TODAY (FRIDAY) FOR A ROAD WORKS AND LAND FORMATION PROJECT WHICH WILL PROVIDE BETTER ACCESS TO TAI PO NEW TOWN AND CREATE AREAS FOR MORE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

THE ROADS WILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO EXISTING AND PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS TO THE EAST OF KWONG FUK AND FU SHIN HOUSING ESTATES AND ALSO PROVIDE A MORE DIRECT LINK FROM TOLO HIGHWAY TO THE TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE.

/THE PROJECT