XN000022-1988-07-20 — Page 41

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1988

SHE NOTED THAT THE

REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT

CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE, WHICH SHE CHAIRED, HAD SUGGESTED THAT THE AIMS OF THE FOUNDATION SHOULD SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE THE PROMOTION OF THE EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, IN ADDITION ΤΟ FURTHERING THEIR WELFARE, EDUCATION AND TRAINING.

SHE WAS GLAD THAT THIS ADVICE BY THE COMMITTEE HAD BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, AND WAS NOW REFLECTED IN THE BILL.

DR IP ALSO STRESSED THAT THE FOUNDATION SHOULD LIAISE CLOSELY WITH THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS NO OVERLAP BETWEEN WHAT WAS BEING FUNDED FROM GENERAL REVENUE IN IMPLEMENTING THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME PLAN AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FOUNDATION.

MENTALLY ILL SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN COVERAGE

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER EXTENDING THE SCOPE OF COVERAGE OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH FOUNDATION FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, THE HON HUI YIN-FAT SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY}

SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH FOUNDATION FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED BILL 1988, MR HUI SAID THE EXCLUSION OF OTHER DISABLED GROUPS FROM THE PROVISIONS WAS SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTING.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE MENTALLY ILL HAD AN EQUALLY PRESSING NEED THE FURTHERANCE OF REHABILITATION SERVICE AND PROMOTION OF EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS AND THEIR DEMANDS WERE FAR FROM BEING MET.

FOR THEIR

**THEREFORE, COULD THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL WHETHER THERE ARE FUNDING RESOURCES FROM WHICH ASSISTANCE FOR THE MENTALLY ILL CAN BE OBTAINED, AND, IF NOT, WHETHER IT WILL CONSIDER EXTENDING THE SCOPE OF COVERAGE OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH FUND?" HE ASKED.

MR HUI SAID HE WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH FOUNDATION WOULD CONSIST OF FIVE TO NINE APPOINTED MEMBERS.

"I WISH ΤΟ EMPHASISE THAT VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, BEING THE PIONEER OF HONG KONG'S REHABILITATION SERVICES AND HAVING LONG YEARS OF WORKING EXPERIENCE BEHIND THEM, COULD MAKE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS USING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH FOUNDATION ANSWERED A LONG-FELT NEED FOR THE ALLOCATION OF MORE RESOURCES TO DEVELOP WELFARE, EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE.

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