XN000022-1997-03-12 — Page 47

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"The group for which this Council and the community have expressed the greatest concern is the elderly. We share this concern.

"That is why, in addition to the financial assistance we provide, we are constantly improving our continuum of care for elderly people."

Mr Tsang said that in 1997/98 the Government would:

Continue to develop a new support network for the elderly by identifying more of those who are vulnerable and more volunteers to reach out to them;

Enhance general out-patient services for the elderly by increasing the number of doctors and supporting staff,

Open 30 new social, day care or multi-services centres;

Provide five new nursing homes with 1,200 beds for the frail elderly;

Provide an extra 1,546 residential care places in other facilities.

He said from April 1, residence requirements will be relaxed for elderly people who retire to Guangdong, allowing them them to receive their monthly standard Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) payments there.

"This will, in the words of a Chinese proverb, help those who like falling leaves wish to return to their roots," he said.

Other groups of people in need will benefit from new spending initiatives in

1997/98.

Spending proposals include:

Providing an additional 790 day places and 1,664 residential places for children and adults with a disability;

Providing 600 places in sheltered workshops or supported employment;

Providing 3,511 places in day nurseries or creches;

Providing in-depth training programmes for social workers and other professionals involved in handling child abuse cases; and