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disabled. Those facilities found not up to standard like the ones I just listed out should be improved. A timetable for improvement works should be drawn up.
Let me just sum up by making 4 points of suggestions:
1. The installation of ramps, stair climbers and dedicated wheelchair lifts at UC buildings for the convenience of the physically disabled;
2. The provision of braille signs and broadcasting systems in lifts and the installation of tactile guide paths at entrances/exits of access roads within UC venues for the visually handicapped;
3. The provision of loop systems at booking offices of all civic and recreational blocks to facilitate communication between staff and people with hearing impairment;
4. In respect of public toilets, some of those within Council facilities now provided for the disabled are separated from those for general use. Very often, for easier management, they are locked up. Maybe this is to guard against abusive use or that the caretakers want to keep them clean. When the disabled wish to use them, they often could not find caretakers to unlock them. I therefore suggest that specially designed toilet cubicles for the disabled should be placed parallelly with those for general use. For old toilets now in existence, some sort of electric bells or communication devices should be installed to enable instant contact with caretakers. This way, disabled people will get immediate assistance.
I sincerely hope that the Urban Services Department and Members of this Council will consider this very carefully. We have a Capital Works Select Committee which is very concerned about this too. I hope that with concerted efforts, we will set up a model in Urban Council facilities. We should aim to provide the best and most user-friendly facilities for the disabled.
With these remarks, I move the motion standing in my name.
MR. STANLEY NG WING-FAI (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
MS. JENNIFER CHOW KIT-BING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, the White Paper on Rehabilitation was published in 1995. In Chapter 9 of the White Paper, the policy objective to ensure people with a disability have the opportunity to participate fully in the activities of the socio-cultural system of which they are an integral part was quoted.
I think the spirit of integrating the able-bodied and the disabled as stated in the White Paper is very positive indeed. We have some 264,000 disabled persons in our society now. The number is expected to jump up to some 310,000 by the year 2004. That their need for recreational and cultural activities will continue to grow is also to be expected. At the monthly meeting of the Urban Council in July 1995, I moved to urge the Urban Services
Page 433 of 498
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Page 433 of 498
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
477
disabled. Those facilities found not up to standard like the ones I just listed out should be improved. A timetable for improvement works should be drawn up.
Let me just sum up by making 4 points of suggestions:
1.
2.
The installation of ramps, stair climbers and dedicated wheelchair lifts. at UC buildings for the convenience of the physically disabled;
The provision of braille signs and broadcasting systems in lifts and the installation of tactile guide paths at entrances/exits of access roads within UC venues for the visually handicapped;
3. The provision of loop systems at booking offices of all civic and recreational blocks to facilitate communication between staff and people with hearing impairment;
4.
In respect of public toilets, some of those within Council facilities now provided for the disabled are separated from those for general use. Very often, for easier management, they are locked up. Maybe this is to guard against abusive use or that the caretakers want to keep them clean. When the disabled wish to use them. they often could not find caretakers to unlock them. I therefore suggest that specially designed toilet cubicles for the disabled should be placed parallelly with those for general use. For old toilets now in existence, some sort of electric bells or communication devices should be installed to enable instant contact with caretakers. This way, disabled people will get immediate assistance.
I sincerely hope that the Urban Services Department and Members of this Council will consider this very carefully. We have a Capital Works Select Committee which is very concerned about this too. I hope that with concerted efforts, we will set up a model in Urban Council facilities. We should aim to to provide the best and most user friendly facilities for the disabled.
With these remarks, I move the motion standing in my name.
MR. STANLEY NG WING-FAI (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
MS. JENNIFER CHOW KIT-BING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, the White Paper on Rehabilitation was published in 1995. In Chapter 9 of the White Paper, the policy objective to ensure people with a disability have the opportunity to participate fully in the activities of the socio-cultural system of which they are an integral part was quoted.
I think the spirit of integrating the able-bodied and the disabled as stated in the White Paper is very positive indeed. We have some 264 000 disabled persons in our society now. The number is expected to jump up to some 310 000 by the year 2004. That their need for recreational and cultural activities will continue to grow is also to be expected. At the monthly meeting of the Urban Council in July 1995, I moved to urge the Urban Services
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Page 433 of 498
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