XN000022-1989-06-10 — Page 2

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 1989

ISSUE OF HALF-WAY HOUSE IN KWUN TONG RESOLVED

A CONTROVERSY OVER A PLAN TO SET UP A HALF-WAY HOUSE IN KWUN TONG HAS BEEN RESOLVED FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH THE DISTRICT BOARD, AREA COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS IN THE DISTRICT.

THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR DAVID LAN, SAID THIS TODAY (SATURDAY) AT A "STEP CLOSER SEMINAR" FOR AREA COMMITTEES IN KWUN TONG.

MR LAN SAID THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD HAD DECIDED TO SUPPORT THE SETTING UP OF A HALF-WAY HOUSE IN KWUN TONG AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND HAD SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT, IN CHOOSING THE OF VIEWS LOCATION AND FACILITIES, SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE THE DISTRICT BOARD AND RESIDENTS.

HAD BEEN RESOLVED SUCCESSFULLY AREA COMMITTEES AND MUTUAL AID PLAYED THEIR ROLE OF CONSULTING LOCAL ATTACHED IMPORTANCE TO PUBLIC

THE FACT THAT THE ISSUE INDICATED THAT THE DISTRICT BOARD, COMMITTEES HAD EFFECTIVELY RESIDENTS, AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT VIEWS.

"ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE RESERVATION ON THE FINAL DECISION, WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IS TO BRING THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT TO THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

PLAN HOUSE

WITH

"THIS OBJECTIVE HAS BEEN ACHIEVED, AND THE GOVERNMENT, THEREFORE, WILL CONTINUE TO COMPLETE RESOLUTION AND UNDERSTANDING," MR LAN SAID.

MR LAN

SAID

THE HALF-WAY

THERE WERE ALTOGETHER 18 HALF-WAY HOUSES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE TERRITORY, PROVIDING NEARLY 700 ACCOMMODATION SPACES.

PLANNED,

INCLUDING THE

EIGHT MORE HALF-WAY HOUSES WERE BEING ONE IN KWUN TONG, TO ACCOMMODATE ANOTHER 500 DISCHARGED MENTAL PATIENTS IN THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR YEARS, HE SAID.

THE SEMINAR, WHICH FEATURES MENTAL HEALTH AS THE THEME, IS FIFTH IN A SERIES OF "STEP CLOSER SEMINEAS" ORGANISED BY THE CITY

TERRITORIES NEW

ADMINSTRATION TO STRENGTHEN

WITH RELATIONS

THE

AND

AREA

COMMITTEES.

THE

MR LAN NOTED THAT THE SEMINAR ALSO MARKED THE LAUNCHING OF KWUN TONG MENTAL HEALTH VARIETY PROGRAMMES, WHICH WOULD FEATURE EXHIBITIONS, CARNIVALS AND OTHER FUNCTIONS IN THE COMING TWO MONTHS.

IN

F

"THESE ACTIVITIES ARE VERY MEANINGFUL IN THAT THEY WILL DRIVE HOME THE MENTAL HEALTH MESSAGE TO EVERY RESIDENT

KWUN TONG, HE

ADDED.

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