ENG-1999 — Page 242

SOCIAL WELFARE

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supplement. Admissions to residential care services are co-ordinated by the Residential Care Services Delivery System for the Elderly. To increase the supply of subsidised residential care services, the Bought Place Scheme for private homes for the elderly was introduced in 1989 and an Enhanced Bought Place Scheme was launched in November 1998. At the end of 1999, 2 492 places were bought from private care homes. Another 1988 care-and-attention places under the Enhanced Bought Place Scheme will be provided from 2000 onwards.

The Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Ordinance which provides legislative control over all residential care homes for the elderly came into full operation on June 1, 1996. At the end of 1999, 431 valid licences and 239 certificates of exemption were issued to subvented, non-profit-making and private residential care homes for the elderly.

The policy objective of ‘ageing in place' is also applied to residential care services. Infirmary care supplement and dementia supplement are provided in accordance with this policy. Moreover, a pilot project on the concept of the 'continuum of care' in residential care homes is being developed which will enable these homes to provide continuous care to elderly residents in their familiar environment despite deterioration of their health conditions.

1999 was the International Year of Older Persons (IYOP). The main theme of the IYOP was 'Towards a Society for All Ages'. To celebrate the IYOP, the Elderly Commission co-ordinated the launching of five Hong Kong-wide and over 700 district events during the year. A publicity programme was also in place to enhance public education in care and respect for the elderly.

Services for Young People

The overall objective of welfare services for young people is to help those aged between six and 24 to develop themselves into mature, responsible and contributing members of the society.

At the district level, 17 youth offices of the department co-ordinate and strengthen existing youth groups and community organisations, promote new groups and help them develop programmes to meet community needs.

At year's end, the government-subvented NGOs ran 192 children and youth centres providing a variety of programmes and activities for young people's personal and social development. The department is modernising the centres to make them more attractive to young people through improving the fitting-out standard and provision of furniture and equipment.

School social work service is provided for all secondary schools to identify and help students whose academic, social and emotional development is at risk. At the end of the year, 300 school social workers were serving a student population of 444 400. On completion of a comprehensive review of the school social work service, a package of measures was introduced to improve the service which included strengthening the manpower provision and enhancing interface with other community-based services targeted at the young people.

The outreaching social work service seeks to reach out and provide counselling and guidance to young people who do not normally participate in conventional social or youth activities and who are vulnerable to undesirable influences. In December, there