XN000022-1989-12-21 — Page 15

14

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1989

ON SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY MRS WONG SAID

BEEN REVIEWS HAD MADE WHICH INCLUDED THE REVISION CONDUCTED AND PROPOSALS

OF THE OF RESIDENTIAL AND AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES.

ELDERLY EN THE

HAD

ALLOWANCES

WHILE NOTING THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE AND FORM OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

SPECIAL NEEDS IMPROVED IN THE PAST YEARS, MRS WONG SAID THE QUALIFYING AGE AGE ALLOWANCE WAS LOWERED FROM 70 YEARS OF AGE BY PHASES 1988.

BEEN FOR OLD

STARTING IN

"THE QUALIFYING AGE WILL BE LOWERED FURTHER AND TO 65 IN 1991," SHE SAID.

RESIDENTIAL ON

SERVICES FOR

THE

TO 66 NEXT YEAR

SAID THE DEPARTMENT AND

ELDERLY, SHE ACTIVELY WORKING WITH THE HOUSING GOVERNMENT WAS

THE VARIOUS TYPES OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO STRENGTHEN INCLUDING SETTING UP MORE HOMES AND CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES ELDERLY.

TO

FACILITIES, FOR THE

REGIONALISE

THE

MRS WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS PLANNING RESIDENTIAL SERVICES SO THAT THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ELDERLY PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH.

N

THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AT A LIMITED SCALE AT FIRST, AND WILL BE EXPANDED WHEN RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE.'

-

TURNING TO CHILD CARE SERVICES, MRS WONG SAID THE DEPARTMENT

REVIEW WAS CARRYING OUT A

ON THE MODE OF SUBSIDIES GRANTED TO NON - PROPIT-MAKING NURSERIES AS WELL AS CONSIDERING RAISING OF SUBSIDY TO FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN ATTENDING NURSERIES.

P

THE LEVEL

"PROPOSALS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERATION SOON, SHE SAID.

J

SHE ALSO NOTED THAT VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, WITH SUPPORT GOVERNMENT, HAD CARRIED OUT A NUMBER OF EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS VIEW TO STRENGTHENING CHILD CARE SERVICES.

THE

FROM THE WITH A

THESE PROJECTS INCLUDED

EXTENSION OF SERVICE HOURS IN CHILD CARE CENTRES AND THE PROVISION OF OCCASIONAL CHILD CARE SERVICES IN HOSPITALS.

+

A $1 7 MILLION PILOT SCHEME ON OCCASIONAL CHILD CARE CARRIED OUT BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN NOVEMBER.

TAKING

"FIFTEEN CHILD CARE CENTRES ARE PROVIDING A TOTAL OF 105 PLACES, SHE SAID.

+4

WAS ALSO

IN PART

THE SCHEME,

PILOT SCHEME

WHICH WILL BE

MRS WONG ALSO MENTIONED ANOTHER INTRODUCED NEXT MONTH THE AFTER SCHOOL CARE SERVICE.

"THE SERVICE, WHICH PROVIDES AFTER SCHOOL CARE TO PRIMARY

A SELECTED CHILDREN AND SCHOOL CHILDREN, WILL BE OFFERED AT

YOUTH CENTRE IN ONE OF THE DISTRICTS OF RACH SWD ADMINISTRATIVE REGION.'

I

/SHE POINTED