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The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, took time off from his busy office itinerary this afternoon (March 21) to meet in person the service users of some welfare facilities as well as exchange views with local leaders in the Sha Tin district.
Accompanied by District Officer (Sha Tin), Mr Philip Chan and District Social Welfare Officer (Sha Tin), Ms Caran Wong, Dr Chow visited the Ma On Shan Neighbourhood Elderly Centre at Lee On Estate, which provided a range of comprehensive services to cater for the psycho-social and developmental needs of some 1,000 senior citizens.
During his visit, Dr Chow chatted casually with participants of various interest classes in the centre - computer usage, Chinese painting and Cantonese opera. He also exchanged views with the social workers at the centre to understand their concerns and daily work in promoting healthy and active ageing among elderly residents in the district.
Dr Chow then toured the Hong Kong Physically Handicapped and Able-Bodied Association Jockey Club Sha Tin Integrated Service Centre for Children and Youth at Hang Shing Street, City One.
In the centre, he was glad to see students, with and without disabilities, taking part jointly in various social and recreational activities to develop their potential and widen their horizons in a barrier-free environment.
Speaking after the visits, Dr Chow said recurrent spending on social welfare in 2005/06 amounted to $34.3 billion, taking up 17.2%, or the second major area of the Government's recurrent expenditure.
Dr Chow noted the financial resources would be devoted to improving various key areas including:
* Social security - additional provision of some $1.1 billion for the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme and the Social Security Allowance Scheme;
* Elderly services - an additional 141 contract home places, 20 day-care centre places and one district elderly community centre under planning;
* Rehabilitation services - an additional 736 residential places, 190 day activity centre places, 78 integrated programme places in childcare centres and 340 vocational rehabilitation services places under planning;
* Family and child services - an additional 75 foster care places, 19 residential places and 18 family and child protection workers under planning; and
* Youth services - one additional integrated children and youth services centre and one school social worker for each of the six new secondary schools under planning.
During today's district visit, Dr Chow also met with local personalities including the chairman and vice-chairman of the Sha Tin District Council, Mr Wai Kwok-hung and Mr Thomas Pang Cheung-wai, to exchange views on health, welfare, food safety and environmental hygiene issues.
Ends/Monday, March 21, 2005
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