XN000022-1994-11-16 — Page 46

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1994.

22

PROGRAMMES TO REHOUSE ELDERLY "CAGED" PEOPLE

* * * *

REPLY

FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION BY THE HON JIMMY MCGREGOR AND A BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

QUESTION: WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL OF THE FOLLOWING:

(A)

(B)

HOW MANY ELDERLY PERSONS ARE AT PRESENT LIVING IN WHAT " AND WHAT ACTION HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS "CAGED HOMES'

TO IMPROVE THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE SITUATION IN THE LAST THREE YEARS; AND

TO PROVIDE ELDERLY PERSONS CONSIDERABLE OR PROGRAMME HAVE BEEN

WHETHER THERE IS ANY POLICY OR PROGRAMME ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LIVED IN SUCH CONDITIONS OVER A TIME: IF SO, HOW EFFECTIVE SUCH POLICY

PEOPLE "CAGED" MANY HAS BEEN AND HOW REHOUSED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS?

REPLY

MY REPLY IS AS FOLLOWS:

(A)

AND ABOVE) AT

OFFICERS VISITS

NUMBER OF ELDERLY PERSONS (AGED 60 THE PRESENT LIVING IN WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS "CAGED HOMES"

IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, IS ESTIMATED AT 1,200. OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PAID HALF-YEARLY TO BEDSPACE APARTMENT LODGERS TO OFFER WELFARE ASSISTANCE,

INSTITUTIONAL ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING FINANCIAL COMPASSIONATE

COUNSELLING,

CARE.

AND

TERRITORIES

SERVICE EMPLOYMENT REHOUSING,

SUCH VISITS ARE TO THOSE ELIGIBLE.

THE CITY NEW CONTINUING AND WILL CONTINUE.

17 SINGLETON HOSTELS WHICH ADMINISTRATION ESTABLISHED OFFER REHOUSING TO SOME OF THE BEDSPACE APARTMENT LODGERS. THE BEDSPACE APARTMENTS ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED 1994 TO PROVIDE FOR A LICENSING SCHEME TO FIRE AND BUILDING SAFETY OF BEDSPACE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LICENSING SCHEME, LODGERS LIVE IN BEDSPACE APARTMENT'S WHICH STANDARDS; AND

(B)

AS POINTED

ABOVE, (A) UNDER OUT

INSTITUTIONAL

IN APRIL REGULATE THE

APARTMENTS.

UPON

WILL MEET THE SAFETY

THE SOCIAL WELFARE APARTMENT DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ASSISTING ELDERLY BEDSPACE

CARE AND COMPASSIONATE LODGERS WITH

SCHEME, PERSONS REHOUSING. UNDER THE ELDERLY PRIORITY

PUBLIC FOR REHOUSING IN AGED 58 AND ABOVE CAN APPLY

WITHIN HOUSING ESTATES. FLATS WILL USUALLY BE ALLOCATED

BEDSPACE THE DATE OF FROM

REGISTRATION. TWO YEARS

FOR PUBLIC HOUSING APPLY CAN ALSO LODGERS APARTMENT

LIST. BEDSPACE APARTMENT THROUGH THE GENERAL WAITING

INTO THE LODGERS AGED BELOW 60 CAN APPLY FOR ADMISSION

THE CITY NEW TERRITORIES SINGLETON HOSTELS OF

THESE POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES HAVE ADMINISTRATION,

650 ABOUT IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, EFFECTIVE. PEOPLE WERE REHOUSED.

BEEN "CAGED"

0

-

/23