XN000022-1991-04-27 — Page 11

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SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1991

POST-IMPLEMENTATION EVALUATION WILL TAKE PLACE SIX MONTHS AFTER THE LIVE RUN OF THE TOTAL SYSTEM.

THE PILOT PROJECT COSTS OVER $30 MILLION AND MORE THAN 1,500 HOSPITAL STAFF, INCLUDING NURSES, WARD STEWARDS AND CLERICAL OFFICERS HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO USE THE SYSTEM.

SERVICES FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED TO IMPROVE

ABOUT 4,000 ADDITIONAL PLACES FOR REHABILITATION SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDED FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AS A RESULT OF SPECIAL ATTEMPTS BY THE GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE SERVICES THEM, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ROSE GOODSTADT, TODAY [SATURDAY},

FOR

SAID

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE KOWLOON UNION CHURCH WAI JI PO LAM HOSTEL AND DAY ACTIVITY CENTRE AT PO LAM ESTATE, TSEUNG KWAN O, MRS GOODSTADT POINTED OUT THAT THE INCREASED

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PROVISION WOULD GREATLY REDUCE THE CURRENT SHORTFALL.

"FURTHERMORE, ΤΟ ENSURE THAT THE SERVICES WILL MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE DISABLED, THE GOVERNMENT HAS SET UP A WORKING PARTY TO DRAW UP A GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION," SHE ADDED.

ON THE WORK OF DAY ACTIVITY CENTRES, MRS GOODSTADT SAID MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE, EVEN THOSE OF THE SEVERE GRADE, COULD BENEFIT FROM TRAINING AND COULD MAKE PROGRESS TOWARDS ACHIEVING BETTER FUNCTIONING AND LEADING A MORE INDEPENDENT LIFE.

REHABILITATION OF DISABLED PEOPLE REQUIRED THE ACTIVE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, SHE SAID, ADDING THAT BOTH GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS HAD TO WORK TOGETHER то TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE OF PROVIDING THE DISABLED WITH EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES.

WHILE NOTING THAT THE KOWLOON UNION CHURCH WAS AMONG THE FIRST AGENCIES TO START SERVICE FOR THE SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, MRS GOODSTADT COMMENDED THE CHURCH FOR BEING MOST RECEPTIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE DISABLED AND FOR ITS DEDICATION TOWARDS PROVIDING THEM CARE AND TRAINING.

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