XN000022-1991-10-08 — Page 12

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1991

SOCIAL SERVICES DEVELOPMENT

DEPENDS ON CONTINUED AFFLUENCE AND PROSPERITY

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE ATTAINMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE TERRITORY, AS EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT 43 PER CENT OF ITS BUDGETTED EXPENDITURE FOR 1990-91 WENT TO SOCIAL SERVICES.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR M.D. CARTLAND, TODAY (TUESDAY) IN MANILA, PHILIPPINES.

CONFERENCE

ADDRESSING THE FOURTH ASIAN AND PACIFIC MINISTERIAL ON SOCIAL WELFARE AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WAS ORGANISED BY THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (ESCAP), MR

CARTLAND SAID:

"FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE TERRITORY WILL DEPEND LARGELY ON THE CONTINUED AFFLUENCE AND PROSPERITY WHICH HONG KONG HAS ENJOYED IN THE PAST DECADE THROUGH THE HARD WORK AND INGENUITY OF ITS POPULATION.

P

OF

"INDEED, MUCH OF THE VALUE OF PARTICIPATION IN A CONFERENCE THIS NATURE LIES IN THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND SHARING OF EXPERIENCE WITH EACH OTHER.

"I AM SURE THIS CONFERENCE WILL HELP US ALL FIND APPROPRIATE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS WHICH WE FACE, FOR THE GREATER BENEFITS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC REGION.

GAVE A

SPEAKING AT THE FIVE-DAY ESCAP CONFERENCE, MR CARTLAND DETAILED DESCRIPTION ON HONG KONG S

KONG'S SOCIAL WELFARE AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SINCE 1985 AND ITS STRATEGY TOWARDS THE YEAR 2000.

ON THE SUBJECT OF HEALTH SERVICES, MR CARTLAND TOLD THE GATHERING THAT THERE WAS A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH PROGRAMME FOR WOMEN OF CHILD-BEARING AGE AND CHILDREN UP TO FIVE YEARS THROUGH A NETWORK OF MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES.

—

"HOSPITALS IN HONG KONG - BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROVIDE A TOTAL OF 25,286 BEDS, REPRESENTING 4.4 BEDS PER THOUSAND POPULATION IN 1990.

"THEY PROVIDE HOSPITAL SERVICES AT LOW COST WHICH ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. SEVERAL MAJOR HOSPITALS ÅND INFIRMARY PROJECTS ARE UNDER PLANNING OR CONSTRUCTION," HE SAID.

TURNING TO EDUCATION, MR CARTLAND TOLD HIS INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE THAT HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ACCORDED A HIGH PRIORITY то THE EXPANSION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

IN 1990, ABOUT 10 PER CENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE RELEVANT AGE GROUP WERE STUDYING FIRST DEGREE COURSES AND SIX PER CENT NON-DEGREE POST-SECONDARY STUDIES.

/THE NUMBER

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