XN000022-1991-03-13 — Page 31

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1991

"HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO EXAMINE THE ISSUE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE ELDERLY BY KEEPING THE EXISTINO SCHEMES UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW AS WELL AS INVESTIGATING OTHER RELATED AREAS SUCH AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME SUITABLE FOR HONG KONG."

COMMENTS ON OTHER ISSUES OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE WHITE PAPER INCLUDED THE COVERAGE OF REHABILITATION SERVICES.

MRS WONG SAID THIS WOULD BE MET THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION, WHICH WOULD BE READY FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION LATER THIS YEAR.

THE WHITE PAPER COVERS A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES RELATING TO NEEDS OF FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND YOUTH AT RISK AND THE ELDERLY.

THE

"IN THE CASE OF THE ELDERLY, THE AIM IS TO PROMOTE THEIR WELL- BEING THROUGH SERVICES WHICH WILL ENABLE THEM TO REMAIN ACTIVE AND VALUED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, MRS WONG EXPLAINED.

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COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES IN THE FORM OF HOME HELP, MULTI- SERVICE CENTRES AND DAY CARE AND SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY WILL BE

EXPANDED.

A HIGH PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO MEETING THE GROWING DEMAND FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE IN THE FORM OF SUBVENTED CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES AND HOMES FOR THE AGED. IN ADDITION, PROPERLY REGULATED PRIVATE AND NON- PROFIT-MAKING HOMES WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO PLAY THEIR PART.

MRS WONG SAID THE WHITE PAPER LOOKED UPON THE FAMILY AS ONE THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF OUR SOCIETY.

OF

TRADITIONALLY, IT IS THROUGH THE FAMILY THAT YOUNG AND OLD

ALIKE HAVE BEEN CARED FOR AND SUPPORTED.

"WITH THE INCREASE IN SMALLER FAMILIES, THIS NETWORK OF FAMILY SUPPORT HAS BECOME WEAKER AT A TIME WHEN THE STRESSES AND STRAINS

OF OUR RAPIDLY DEVELOPING SOCIETY HAVE INCREASED THE PRESSURES ON ALL FAMILY MEMBERS, SHE SAID.

FAMILY CASEWORK AND COUNSELLING SERVICES WILL BE STEPPED UP TO HELP AND REACH OUT TO FAMILIES EXPERIENCING PERSONAL AND FAMILY PROBLEMS.

SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS HOME HELP AND DAY CARE FOR CHILDREN WILL BE STRENGTHENED. SPECIAL ATTENTION WILL BE PAID TO THE NEEDS OF THE GROWING NUMBER OF SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES AND TO THOSE FAMILIES WHO CANNOT PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES THE BASIC NECESSITIES OF DAILY LIFE.

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BY

"IN PARTICULAR, THE WHITE PAPER PROPOSES THAT THE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN IN FAMILIES RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BE RECOGNISED ADDITIONAL CHILD SUPPLEMENT, MRS WONG SAID, "AND THIS SUPPLEMENT WILL BE INTRODUCED LATER THIS YEAR.

AN

"

/MRS WONG