Diversified provision of elderly services necessary
Following a comprehensive review of Hong Kong's elderly services, the Government has adopted an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach towards the future development of these services, the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, said today (Monday).
Addressing the opening of the Fifth Asia/Oceania Regional Congress of Gerontology, Mr Patten said: "On policy formulation, a team has been set up in the central government branch responsible for health and welfare matters to oversee and co-ordinate matters relating to the elderly.
"It should ensure a better interface between government and non-government services, and a more efficient use of resources to meet the varying needs of elderly people."
While agreeing that it was important to provide services directly or to subvent others to provide services for the elderly, the Governor said such services should not be the exclusive domain of the public sector.
Mr Patten said public provision should be targeted at those in greatest need and least able to help themselves.
"There is a major market out there for the private sector to provide services for the elderly on a cost recovery or profit-making basis," Mr Patten said.
"People able and willing to pay more to receive better services are not currently well served in Hong Kong.
"To encourage the voluntary and the private sectors to think seriously about providing self-financing services for elderly persons who can afford to pay, we have set up a $200 million Elderly Services Development Fund.
"Grants will be made to establish residential or community support services for the elderly to be maintained afterwards on a self-financing basis."
Mr Patten said diversifying from the standard base of government provision
was necessary.
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