XN000022-1994-07-13 — Page 6

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1994

QUESTION: DO YOU GET ANY RESPONSE FROM THE CHINESE SIDE AND ARE YOU TOO OPTIMISTIC THAT THEY WILL SUPPORT THE SCHEME?

GOVERNOR: WELL, THE FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT WE DID OF COURSE, BEFORE EXCO REACHED THE FINAL CONCLUSION, GIVE AN OUTLINE OF OUR PROPOSALS TO THE HONG KONG AND MACAU AFFAIRS OFFICE. THEY ARE NOT ALL THE DETAIL OF THOSE PROPOSALS. THE DETAIL'S NOW BEEN PASSED TO THE CHINESE SIDE AND OF COURSE WE WILL WANT TO DISCUSS ALL THAT DETAIL WITH CHINESE OFFICALS OVER THE COMING WEEKS. I VERY MUCH HOPE, GIVEN THE COMMITMENT WHICH THEY'VE EXPRESSED TO THE WELL BEING OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, THAT THEY WILL GIVE THESE PROPOSALS A FAIR WIND. BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY WILL NEED TIME TO STUDY THEM. OBVIOUSLY THEY WILL WANT TO CONSULT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. OBVIOUSLY THEY WILL

ΤΟ WANT ENSURE THAT THESE PROPOSALS ARE NOT ONLY GOOD FOR THE PRESENT BUT GOOD FOR THE FUTURE AS WELL, AND IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY IRRESPONSIBLE FOR US NOT то EXPECT THE FULLEST POSSIBLE CONSULTATION WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SEE. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SCHEME AND I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT IT CAN BE LAUNCHED WITH THE GREATEST POSSIBLE SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED.

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GOVERNOR VISITS SAGE ELDERLY CENTRES

* *

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, THIS (WEDNESDAY) THE HONG AFTERNOON SAW FOR HIMSELF THE WELFARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY KONG SOCIETY FOR THE AGED (SAGE) BY VISITING

EASTERN DISTRICT AND DAY CARE CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY IN NORTH

MULTI-SERVICE

POINT.

CENTRE

ITS

WELFARE,

MRS

LOUISE

PROVIDES

ACCOMPANIED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND ELIZABETH WONG, AND THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS WONG, MR PATTEN FIRST TOURED THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTRE WHICH SUPPORTING SERVICES FOR ITS 1,000 ELDERLY MEMBERS AND 800 ASSOCIATED MEMBERS, USING A DISTRICT-BASED MULTI-SERVICE APPROACH.

ON HAND TO RECEIVE THE VISITORS WAS THE SAGE CHAIRMAN, PROFESSOR EDWARD CHEN.

THE

GOVERNOR

LEARNED THAT THE CENTRE PROVIDED SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, MEALS, LAUNDRY AND BATHING SERVICES, COUNSELLING AND HOME HELP.

HE

WAS

SERVICE

A

AND TOLD THAT COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMMES

USEFULNESS AND ALSO ORGANISED TO INSTILL A SENSE OF CONSTRUCTIVE WAY OF LIVING AMONG THE ELDERLY.

GROUPS WERE

PHYSICAL

IMPRESSED WITH THE SERVICES ON OFFER, MR PATTEN WATCHED SOME ELDERLY PEOPLE IN GROUP ACTIVITIES. INCLUDING

EXERCISE, CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY, SOCIAL DANCE AND SIMPLE ARTS AND CRAFTS WORK.

THE VISIT ALSO COVERED THE ADJACENT SAGE DAY CARE THE ELDERLY WHICH PROVIDES DAY CARE FOR OLD PEOPLE AGED 60 WHO REQUIRE PERSONAL CARE SERVICES DURING THE DAY BUT CAN AFTER BY THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AT HOME DURING THE NIGHT.

CENTRE FOR AND ABOVE BE LOOKED

/AT THE