XN000022-1987-12-07 — Page 9

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1987

BETTER SOCIAL SECURITY FOR ELDERLY

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SOCIAL SECURITY FOR THE ELDERLY HAS TAKEN A BIG STRIDE FORWARD THIS YEAR FOLLOWING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL OF A HIGHER RATE OF OLD AGE ALLOWANCE FOR THOSE AGED OVER 70 AND AN EXTENSION OF THE ALLOWANCE TO THOSE OVER 65, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, MISS ELAINE CHUNG, SAID

TODAY (MONDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL BUTTERFLY ESTATE SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY IN TUEN MUN, MISS CHUNG SAID THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAD APPROVED THAT FROM APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR, OLD AGE ALLOWANCE FOR THOSE AGED OVER 70 WOULD BE RAISED FROM $255 TO $320 A MONTH.

THE

FROM SEPTEMBER NEXT YEAR, THOSE IN THE 68-69 AGE GROUP WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR AN OLD AGE ALLOWANCE OF $280 PER MONTH.

MISS CHUNG SAID THAT OVER THE YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR HAD BEEN WORKING CLOSELY IN DEVELOPING SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY.

"THERE ARE NOW 88 SOCIAL CENTRES, 12 MULTI-SERVICES AND FOUR DAY-CARE CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY.

CENTRES

OF

"AT THE SAME TIME, THE NUMBER OF PLACES IN VARIOUS KINDS RESIDENTIAL HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY HAS ALSO INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. THERE ARE 1,445 HOSTEL PLACES, 3,845 HOME PLACES, 1,470 PLACES IN CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES AND 595 PLACES IN THE TWO HOUSING SCHEMES FOR THE ELDERLY," SHE SAID.

MISS CHUNG ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SET UP A CENTRAL COMMITTEE ON SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY IN JULY THIS YEAR ΤΟ FURTHER STRENGTHEN EXISTING ELDERLY SERVICES AND EXTEND THE SCOPE OF THESE SERVICES.

SHE SAID THAT DURING THESE SIX MONTHS, THE COMMITTEE HAD COMPLETED A REVIEW ON THE RESIDENTIAL AND CARE AND ATTENTION SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY.

"IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE COMMITTEE PLANS TO PROVIDE MORE SERVICES AND FACILITIES IN THE AREAS OF HOUSING, TRANSPORT, FINANCIAL NEEDS, COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICES AND HOME HELP SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, SHE SAID.

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