XN000022-1988-04-27 — Page 30

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1988

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OPERATION OF SOCIAL CENTRES FOR ELDERLY BEING STUDIED

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS NOW RXAMINING THE MODE OF OPERATION OF SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY WITH A VIEW ΤΟ PROVIDING SERVICES ON A MORE FLEXIBLE BASIS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A GREATER NUMBER OF ELDERLY PEOPLE, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY),

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION RAISED BY THE HON ROSANNA TAM, MR CHAMBERS SAID THE CURRENT PLANNING RATIO WOULD BE REVIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY.

THE CURRENT PLANNING RATIO FOR THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY IS ONE CENTRE FOR 30,000 GENERAL POPULATION.

"THIS IS A BROAD GUIDELINE AND IS USED. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE PLANNING OF SERVICES AND RESERVATION OF PREMISES IN NEW PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WHERE THE DEMOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE WILL NOT BE APPARENT UNTIL THE ACTUAL INTAKE OF POPULATION," MR CHAMBERS SAID.

"IN PRACTICE, HOWEVER, THIS STANDARD IS APPLIED WITH FLEXIBILITY (WITH A DEVIATION OF PLUS OR MINUS 20 PER CENT) ΤΟ TAKE ACCOUNT, FOR EXAMPLE, OF AREAS WITH A CONCENTRATION OF ELDERLY PEOPLE OR OF REMOTE AREAS OF SCATTERED POPULATION."

TURNING TO THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTRES AND DAY CARE CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY, MR CHAMBERS SAID BOTH OF THESE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED ON A DISTRICT BASIS AND PROVISION WAS NOT CALCULATED BY REFERENCE ΤΟ A SPECIFIC PLANNING RATIO,

CRITERION FOR ICAC INVESTIGATION EXPLAINED

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THE CRITERION FOR DECIDING WHETHER THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION OR ONE OF THE OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SHOULD INVESTIGATE A CASE INVOLVING CONSPIRACY ΤΟ DEFRAUD OR TRAFFICKING IN DANGEROUS DRUGS DEPENDS ON WHETHER THERE IS AN ALLEGATION OF CORRUPTION OR AN INDICATION THAT CORRUPTION HAS TAKEN PLACE.

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HELMUT SOHMEN.

/MR BARNES

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