XN000022-1986-11-27 — Page 8

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1986

+GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM SOMETHING LIKE 25 000 STAFF ARE INVOLVED -- IT IS UNLIKELY THAT AN IMMEDIATE DISESTABLISHMENT OF THE STAFF OF THE GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS WOULD BE PRACTICABLE AND IT IS MUCH MORE LIKELY THAT A PHASED CHANGEOVER, WITH STAFF BEING OFFERED VARIOUS OPTIONS, WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED.+

RE ITERATING THE EMPHASIS TO BE PLACED ON STAFF CONSULTATION BEFORE ANY FINAL DECISIONS ARE TAKEN, MR CHAMBERS POINTED OUT: + IF THE NEW ORGANISATION IS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IT WILL BE MOST IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT MORALE IS HIGH AND THAT STAFF AND MANAGEMENT WORK TOGETHER TO GET THE BEST POSSIBLE RESULTS.+

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VOLUNTEERS CAN HELP THE ELDERLY

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VOLUNTARY SERVICE TO PROVIDE CARE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE ELDERLY SHOULD BE URGENTLY PROMOTED. THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR THE AGED, MRS CHAN SAID THAT VOLUNTARY SERVICE AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE WERE COMPLEMENTARY.

+WHEN NEW PROBLEMS EMERGE IN SOCIETY AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNABLE TO REACT IMMEDIATELY OR MAP OUT CONTINGENCY MEASURES BECAUSE OF TIME AND FISCAL CONSTRAINTS. VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS CAN PROVIDE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN DISTRESS QUICKLY AND FLEXIBLY, SHE SAID.

+IN ADDITION, VOLUNTEER SERVICE CAN HELP IDENTIFY THE NEEDS OF SOCIETY AND PROVIDE THE NECESSARY IMPETUS FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION,+ SHE SAID.

VOLUNTEERS COULD ALSO FIND IT EASIER TO ESTABLISH A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE THEY WERE TRYING TO HELP.

+FOR EXAMPLE, PLACING CHILDREN IN FOSTER HOMES IS BETTER THAN PUTTING THEM IN RECEPTION CENTRES, SHE SAID.

HOWEVER, MRS CHAN STRESSED THAT THE VALUE OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SHOULD NOT BE NEGLECTED.

/+INTERVENTION AND