XN000022-1990-03-21 — Page 27

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1990

MEANTIME, MRS WONG SAID, VARIOUS FORMS OF ASSISTANCE WERE BEING PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS OF BEDSPACE APARTMENTS INCLUDING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING AND THE OFFER OF VARIOUS FORMS OF RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED.

HOWEVER, SHE NOTED THAT MANY OF THESE ELDERLY PEOPLE WERE RELUCTANT TO MOVE FROM THEIR PRESENT ACCOMMODATION BECAUSE OF THEIR STRONG LOCAL TIES.

"PROVIDING THAT THE ACCOMMODATION COMPLIES WITH FIRE AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS, THE QUESTION OF EVICTION BY GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT ARISE," MRS WONG SAID.

IN VIEW OF THE SCARCITY OF LOW RENTAL ACCOMMODATION FOR SINGLE PEOPLE IN THE URBAN AREA, MRS WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD IN THE LAST TWO YEARS OBTAINED SPECIAL FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF PREMISES FOR URBAN HOSTELS FOR THOSE WHO WERE EITHER WITHOUT HOUSING OR WERE INADEQUATELY HOUSED.

"ONE SUCH HOSTEL HAS BEEN SET UP TO CATER TO THESE NEEDS AND WE ARE ENDEAVOURING TO ESTABLISH A SECOND, SHE SAID.

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IN 1989, A WORKING PARTY ON HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY RECOMMENDED THE PROVISION IN FUTURE WITHIN EACH HOUSING ESTATE OF A SPECTRUM OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY RANGING FROM SHELTERED HOUSING TO RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES, AS WELL AS MEASURES TO ENCOURAGE THE YOUNGER GENERATION TO CONTINUE TO CARE FOR THEIR ELDERLY PARENTS AND RELATIVES AS PART OF THE FAMILY.

"THIS WORKING GROUP ALSO RECOMMENDED, AMONGST OTHER POINTS, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HOSTELS FOR ELDERLY PERSONS IN DENSELY POPULATED URBAN AREAS.

THE

"THESE PROPOSALS ARE, I BELIEVE, HOUSING AUTHORITY AND RELEVANT APPROPRIATE," MRS WONG SAID.

NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AS

NOTING THAT MUCH REMAINED TO BE DONE, MRS WONG SAID THE SUCCESS OF ALL THESE ENDEAVOURS WOULD DEPEND NOT SOLELY ON GOVERNMENT ACTION BUT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE ACTIVE COMMUNITY SUPPORT, NOT LEAST BY THOSE DIRECTLY CONCERNED, INCLUDING THE OPERATORS AND OWNERS OF SUCH APARTMENTS.

"AS A CARING COMMUNITY, WE MUST NOT IGNORE THE NEEDS OF THE UNDERPRIVILEGED IN OUR MIDST, SHE SAID.

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