XN000022-1987-10-02 — Page 8

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1987

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CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MISS ELAINE CHUNG, SAID AFTER THE MEETING THAT THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED THE DIFFICULTIES OF PROVIDING NEW INFIRMARIES AND WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE PRIVATE INFIRMARIES.

"HOWEVER, THIS MIGHT NOT BE A VIABLE OPTION BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST OF SETTING UP SUCH FACILITIES AND THE UNCERTAIN MARKET POR PRIVATE INFIRMARIES," SHE SAID.

"THE COMMITTEE REQUESTED THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT то CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF OPERATING A WAITING LIST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE INFIRMARIES COMING ON STREAM AFTER 1990," SHE ADDED.

THE COMMITTEE SUGGESTED TRANSFERRING CASES BETWEEN INFIRMARY AND CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES PREFERABLY IN THE SAME DISTRICT SO THAT THE ELDERLY CAN BE GIVEN APPROPRIATE CARE.

IN THIS CONNECTION, DURING A RECENT VISIT, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE SUGGESTED то THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS THAT THE GROUP SHOULD CONSIDER SETTING UP A CARE AND ATTENTION HOME ON A SITE NEXT TO THEIR WONG TAI SIN INFIRMARY.

AS REGARDS ACCOMMODATION FOR THE ELDERLY, THE COMMITTEE WAS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS RECENTLY DECIDED TO INCREASE THE PROVISION OF SINGLETON UNITS FROM 1,000 PER ANNUM TO 3,000 PER ANNUM.

AS REGARDS THE ELDERLY PRIORITY SCHEME, THE COMMITTEE NOTED A SCIENTIFIC SURVEY DONE BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WHICH SHOWED THAT 86 PER CENT OF THE ELDERLY WHO BENEFITED UNDER THE SCHEME WERE LIVINO HARMONIOUSLY TOGETHER WITH ANOTHER EIGHT PER CENT HAVING OCCASIONAL DISPUTES.

IT WAS NOTED THAT ACCORDING TO PRESENT

ESTIMATES, THE DEMAND

FOR HOMES FOR THE AGED WILL BE FULLY MET IN FIVE YEARS.

THE COMMITTEE WOULD ALSO WISH TO DRAW THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC TO A SCHEME WHEREBY FAMILIES ON THE WAITING LIST WITH AT LEAST ONE ELDERLY PARENT WILL HAVE THEIR HOUSING ALLOCATION ADVANCED BY ONE YEAR IF THEY MEET THE PREVAILING ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. SINCE TOTAL OF 3,400 FAMILIES HAVE BENEFITED UNDER THIS SCHEME.

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