XN000022-1994-10-07 — Page 31

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1994

MR LAI THANKED OTHER DEPARTMENTS, IN PARTICULAR THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, CIVIL AID SERVICES AND GOVERNMENT FLYING SERIVCE (GFS), FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE TO HILL FIRE FIGHTING IN COUNTRY PARKS.

AS THE CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL WAS JUST DAYS AWAY, MR LAI REMINDED GRAVE-WORSHIPPERS TO TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES WHEN BURNING JOSS STICKS AND PAPER.

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"LIGHTING FIRES INSIDE COUNTRY PARKS INDISCRIMINATELY WILL BE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5,000 AND ONE YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT, HE ADDED.

THERE WERE A TOTAL OF SIX PROSECUTIONS AGAINST THE ILLEGAL USE OF FIRES IN COUNTRY PARKS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS AND OFFENDERS WERE FINED UP TO $1,000.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISABLED PERSONS

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THE OPENING OF THE ACUPRESSURE AND MASSAGE CENTRE OF THE BLIND, THE SECOND OF ITS KIND IN THE TERRITORY, IS AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TOWARDS ACHIEVING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISABLED PERSONS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR IAN STRACHAN, WHEN HE OFFICIATED AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CENTRE THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON.

"IT IS ABOUT AN ENTERPRISE, A PROFIT-MAKING BUSINESS, GENERATING INCOME NOT ONLY FOR A FEW DISABLED PERSONS, BUT ALSO FOR RE-INVESTMENT TO CREATE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE DIABLED PERSONS.

"I WOULD LIKE TO SEE FURTHER EXPANSION SO THAT MORE VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS CAN BENEFIT.

"THIS WILL ENABLE THEM TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THEIR SOCIAL STATUS, EARNINGS POTENTIAL AND QUALITY OF LIFE," MR STRACHAN SAID.

POINTING OUT THAT THE IDEA GENERATED FROM A GROUP OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED MASSEURS, MR STRACHAN SAID THE FIRST CENTRE WAS SET UP IN 1987 WITH ASSISTANCE FROM SOME VOLUNTARY HELPERS.

"IT WAS TRANSFORMED FROM A VISITING SERVICE MODEL WHEREBY MASSEURS DELIVERED DOOR-TO-DOOR TREATMENT SERVICE UPON REQUEST, HE SAID.

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SINCE THEN, THE CENTRE'S BUSINESS HAS DEVELOPED IT HAS GENERATED ENOUGH SURPLUS AS CAPITAL FOR A SECOND IS OFFICIALLY OPENED TODAY.

STEADILY AND CENTRE WHICH

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