the private sector must depend on the state of the economy at the time, but the Government and voluntary agencies will continue to assist in finding suitable employment for them. As a longer term objective, it is hoped to centralize existing employment services within the Labour Department, but this will take time. For those old people who do not wish to seek open employment, handicraft centres providing part-time employment may be the answer. Two such centres are planned to be in operation on a trial basis by 1980/81.
4.16
There are adequate public funeral services free or at nominal cost, and cremation is encouraged as a dignified and inexpensive alternative to burial. The Urban Council recently added to these services by opening a new funeral parlour and the Tung Wah Group also operates four low cost funeral parlours. Funeral expenses for needy families are met through discretionary payments under the Public Assistance scheme and through the Emergency Relief Fund in case of disasters.
4.17
The popularity of Pak Kam Wui appears to be declining in view of increased social security benefits and better welfare facilities. Nevertheless, these schemes are known to have a fairly wide membership amongst the poorer section of the community. The Government is gathering more up-to-date information on the scope and operation of these schemes and will decide on the basis of this information whether legislative controls are necessary.
Housing
4.18
The Government's housing target is to provide decent self-contained accommodation for all by the mid 1980's. The elderly with families will continue to be rehoused through this ambitious programme. There are an estimated 177,000 elderly persons living in Housing Authority estates and it is anticipated that under existing criteria, a further 134,000 old people will be rehoused by 1987/88. In addition, the Housing Authority has accepted a commitment over the next 10 years to rehouse 10,000 elderly persons in one and two person households who are ineligible for public housing under existing criteria. This target will be achieved mainly through:
(i)
the provision of 5,000 places in hostel accommodation;
(ii)
allowing entry onto the waiting list of three elderly unrelated persons;
4.19
(iii)
as a longer term objective, when other more pressing needs have been met, allocation of housing to elderly couples on the waiting list.
The Housing Authority's building programme will provide an estimated 3,500 places by 1982/83, mainly in hostel accommodation. The planning targets will be reviewed annually to take account of the supply and demand situation.
4.20
The Housing Society has introduced a "sheltered housing" scheme for old people at its Cho Yiu Chuen estate, which consists of 130 self-contained flats with a capacity for 260 people under the general supervision of a warden. The Society plans to include similar facilities in its new housing estates. The next project in the pipeline will be at Sha Tin and will provide 100 flats with a capacity for 200 people, to be completed in 1980/81. It is expected that by 1982/83, over 400 elderly people will have been rehoused in this manner.
4.21
The Government's Home Ownership Scheme should benefit a proportion of the elderly who do not choose to go into public housing estates, and whose families are eligible to participate in the scheme. 8,370 flats are expected to be completed by 1979/80, with a further 17,200 flats completed by 1982/83, but it is not possible to estimate the number of elderly people who will be housed therein.
4.22
The Director of Social Welfare will commission next year a study into the facilities and services available in "chai-tong". These are traditional religious institutions providing board,
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