XN000022-1986-11-12 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1986

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+ CONSIDER THAT IT IS NOW APPROPRIATE FOR GOVERNMENT TO CREATE A HOTLINE SERVICE WHEREBY ANY GOOD CITIZEN, NEIGHBOUR OR RELATIVE CAN TELEPHONE TO SEEK FOR URGENT HELP ON ANY MATTERS RELATED TO THE ELDERLY.

+ SUCH MATTERS CAN THEN BE INVESTIGATED AND SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY CO-ORDINATED TO OFFER REMEDY TO PRESSING PROBLEMS, SHE SAID.

DR IP QUOTED A COMMENT MADE BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN HIS SPEECH ON THE DEMESTIC VIOLENCE BILL IN WHICH HE SAID: +THE KNOWN FIGURES MAY BE RELATIVELY SMALL, BUT I TAKE THE VIEW THAT THIS .. WOULD BE JUSTIFIED EVEN IF THERE WAS ONLY ONE CASE WHERE THE VICTIM OF VIOLENCE WISHED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ITS PROVISIONS.+

+ THE SAME GOES FOR WHAT SUCH A GOVERNMENT HOTLINE SERVICE CAN OFFER IN THE HANDLING OF ELDERLY ABUSE,+ SHE SAID.

TURNING TO ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING ELDERLY PEDESTRIANS DR IP SAID EDUCATING THE OLD ON TRANSPORT SAFETY HAD ITS VALUE, BUT IT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE ALTERNATIVES OPENED TO THEM WAS TO GET UP AND DOWN ONE OR MORE FOOTBRIDGES.

SHE SAID SHE HAD NO PERFECT CURE FOR HONG KONG'S TRAFFIC PROBLEMS BUT ON TOP OF BETTER DESIGN OF ROADS AND FACILITIES FOR CROSSING AND EDUCATION ON ROAD SENSE, IT MIGHT NOT BE A BAD IDEA TO FOLLOW WHAT THE CANADIAN CHINESE WERE DOING FOR THEIR SENIOR CITIZENS.

+WE CAN CUSTOM-DESIGN A USEFUL CONSPICUOUS APPAREL TO BE WORN OR CARRIED BY OUR SENIOR CITIZENS TO ALERT THE TRAFFIC.

+FOR THIS IDEA TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THE DESIGN OF THE APPAREL MUST BE PLEASING TO THE ELDERLY AND USEFUL FOR HIM TO GO ABOUT HIS DAILY ACTIVITIES.

+FOR IT TO STAND OUT ENOUGH TO ALERT MOTOR DRIVERS,

*IT MUST BE OF A BRIGHT COLOUR DURING THE DAY AND FLOURESCENT AT NIGHT, AND THE DESIGN MUST BE MADE TO IDENTIFY WITH THE ELDERLY, SHE SAID.

DR IP SAID THE ZONTA CLUB OF HONG KONG TOGETHER WITH THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE HAD JUST LAUNCHED SUCH A COMPETITION TO GAIN PUBLIC AWARENESS.

QUOTING A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SURVEYS, DR IP SAID NUMEROUS ELDERLY PEOPLE WERE SUFFERING FROM PAIN, INABILITY TO CHEW PROPERLY AND DISCOMFORT EMANATING FROM THEIR ORAL STATUS.

+

/SHE SAID