XN000022-1996-05-15 — Page 46

Reply:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

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of the number of residential places currently provided by the Social Welfare Department and the establishment of staff who are directly involved in providing such service;

of the requirements for applying for such service;

whether it has provided financial assistance to voluntary organisations for the provision of such service; if so, how many residential places provided by these organisations are funded by the Government; and

whether it will consider enhancing such service in the near future?

The objective of the respite service is to provide temporary residential accommodation for people with a disability, including mentally handicapped persons, for a period not exceeding two weeks in order to allow those who are responsible for caring for them at home to have a short break or respite.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

The Social Welfare Department is currently providing two residential places in its Cheung Hong Hostel for respite purposes. The service is provided by the existing staff of the Hostel and no additional posts have been established specifically for this purpose.

The respite service is available to persons with a disability who are of 15 years of age or above; do not have infectious diseases; do not require intensive care; and do not have violent behaviour.

At present, there is no financial assistance provided by the Government to non-governmental organisations for the provision of respite services, although some respite places are provided by such organisations using their own resources.

Subject to the availability of resources, it is the intention of the Government eventually to subvent two residential places for respite services in hostels for the mentally handicapped in each of the five regions.

End