TNAG-2293-FCO40-3305-Official-visits-from-Hong-Kong-to-China-1991 — Page 80

Services for the Disabled

13.

30

-

Successful integration could only be achieved when

the

vital

disabled became financially independent,

which was

in elevating their status. Services for the disabled

were thus concentrated on providing work opportunities, ie.

'social welfare

welfare production"

the provision of prosthesis.

( 社会福利生產

), and

14.

The

importance

their integration

of

public education to facilitate

was also recognized. The third Saturday

of May had been marked as a National Help the Disabled Day

( ) since 1991.

15.

China had

a disabled population of 50 million.

welfare enterprises with a workforce

There were 41,000

(able and disabled) of 650,000 and their productions ranged from cosmetics to satellite spare-parts. These enterprises enjoyed tax-reduction and other support, eg. exemption of

profits-tax if 35% of the workforce were disabled;

exemption of products tax if 50% of the workforce were

disabled and other technical or financial assistance. In

the cities, about 70% to 90% of the disabled were reported to be employed.