XN000022-1993-03-31 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1993

AT

THE BILINGUAL PUBLICATION "HONG KONG PROPERTY REVIEW 1993" $100, IS ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, 2 CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL, HONG KONG.

ENQUIRIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE TECHNICAL SECRETARY, RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT, 26TH FLOOR, HENNESSY CENTRE, 500 HENNESSY ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG (TEL 805 7622).

MORE RESOURCES TO HELP LESS FORTUNATE PEOPLE

TO

THERE IS A RISING EXPECTATION AND WILLINGNESS IN THE COMMUNITY SHARE MORE OF THE RESOURCES WITH THOSE LESS FORTUNATE AND

PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

THIS WAS SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR IAN STRACHAN, WHEN ADDRESSING THE OPENING OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG'S LEI CHENG UK SHELTERED WORKSHOP.

"WE SHARE THE CALL FOR AN INCREASE SUPPLY OF SERVICES AND FACILITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES то HELP THEM ATTAIN THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE DEGREE OF INTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY, HE STRESSED.

"I

MR STRACHAN POINTED OUT THAT IN T'HE 1992 GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION, THE GOVERNMENT HAD PROPOSED EXPANDING REHABILITATION SERVICES OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AT AN ANNUAL ADDITIONAL RECURRENT COST OF ABOUT $140 MILLION.

IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNOR, IN HIS POLICY ADDRESS LAST OCTOBER, HAD ALSO UNEQUIVOCALLY COMMITTED AN ADDITIONAL SUM OF $2.3 BILLION FOR THE EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, INCLUDING REHABILITATION, OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, HE NOTED.

"BUT WE STILL HAVE A CONSIDERABLE SHORTFALL OF REHABILITATION FACILITIES," MR STRACHAN SAID, ADDING THAT IN GENERAL, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH FACILITIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY HAD BEEN WELL ACCEPTED BY RESIDENTS.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, HOWEVER, THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HOSTEL FOR SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE IN THE TUNG TAU ESTATE, AND AN ACTIVITY CENTRE FOR DISCHARGED MENTAL PATIENTS AT LAGUNA CITY HAD BEEN OPPOSED BY SOME LOCAL RESIDENTS, HE NOTED.

SUCH REJECTION AND PREJUDICE VERY OFTEN STEMMED FROM UNGROUNDED AND IRRATIONAL REASONS, HE ADDED.

WORK, WITH IMPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT

"I BELIEVE THAT AS A RESULT OF MUCH HARD COMMUNICATION AND EXPLANATION, BASED ON GOOD WILL AND PARTIES CONCERNED, THERE ARE SOME SIGNS THAT THE RESIDENTS OF TUNG TAU ESTATE AND LAGUNA CITY HAVE MODIFIED THEIR ATTITUDES.

"I AM MOST ENCOURAGED TO SEE THAT LEGISLATORS THE MASS MEDIA AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE HAVE ALL GIVEN STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE TWO PROJECTS, MR STRACHAN ADDED.

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