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Following is a question by the Hon Lau Wai hing, Emily and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (March 28):
Question:
At present, stairlifts facilitating movements of disabled persons are installed next to the staircases of some public facilities such as footbridges. Some of the stairlifts can be operated by disabled persons themselves with the use of common keys, and duplicate common keys may be purchased from three rehabilitation organisations. Recently, I have received complaints that the selling price of $15 for a duplicate common key is too high, and many disabled persons have not been informed that they can purchase duplicate common keys to operate stairlifts. Moreover, the need for disabled persons to press buttons in order to operate stairlifts causes inconvenience to people with hand disabilities or with difficulties in hand movements. In this connection, will the Executive Authorities inform this Council:
(a) of the current number of stairlifts installed in public places which can be operated by using common keys;
(b) of the people eligible to purchase duplicate common keys and the number of duplicate common keys sold so far;
(c) of the reasons for the higher fee for duplicating the common key as compared to ordinary key, and whether the authorities will consider providing duplicate common keys free of charge to those low-income earners and recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance who have such a need;
(d) whether they will step up publicity to promote the use of common keys among disabled persons; and
(e) whether they will improve the design of stairlifts for easier operation?
Reply:
Madam President,
My reply to the five parts of the question is as follows:
(a) The Honourable Member should be referring to the common key actuated wheelchair stairlifts. According to data provided by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), as at the end of 2006, a total of 75 common key actuated (self-operated) stairlifts were installed in 59 public places across the territory.
(b) The use of common key actuated wheelchair stairlifts was first proposed by representatives of the rehabilitation sector in 1997, and the measure has been adopted by EMSD as one of the specifications in the design of wheelchair stairlifts since 1999. There are no specific eligibility criteria governing the use of wheelchair stairlifts. Anybody in need, such as wheelchair users or people with mobility difficulties, may purchase a common key and use these wheelchair stairlifts.
(c) People in need may purchase the common keys through the non-profit-making ordering service provided by three rehabilitation agencies, namely the Rehabilitation Alliance Hong Kong, Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power and Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth. We do not have information on the total number of people who have purchased the common keys between 1999 and now. However, according to the data provided by the above three agencies, a total of about 200 common keys are sold every month.
(d) The common keys, provided by the supplier at a unit price of $15, are sourced from the original manufacturer. These keys are manufactured strictly according to specific specifications for operating all wheelchair stairlifts. At present, the three rehabilitation agencies, which offer ordering service for the common keys, sell the keys to people in need at the original price fixed by the manufacturer. For CSSA recipients, they may apply for the special grant under the CSSA Scheme to reimburse the expenses.
(e) At the end of last year, a number of Members of the Legislative Council wrote to the Administration proposing free distribution of common keys to people in need. In our reply, we agreed to distribute the common key free of charge to every wheelchair user and everyone with mobility difficulties. To ensure the correct and safe use of common key actuated wheelchair stairlifts by people in need, we are now working with relevant government departments to draw up a user's guidelines. Printing of the user's guidelines and application forms as well as procurement of the common keys are also underway. It is expected that free common keys can be distributed in 2-3 months' time.
(f) At present, the use and operation of common key actuated wheelchair stairlifts are promoted by the Joint Council for the Physically and Mentally Disabled Hong Kong and most rehabilitation agencies for the physically disabled through their newsletters and web pages. Publicity efforts will also be stepped up to coincide with the launching of the free distribution of common keys, including promotion on the web pages of relevant government departments and rehabilitation agencies and in the latter's monthly/quarterly newsletters; and posting of notices in public places installed with common key actuated wheelchair stairlifts informing the general public about the free distribution of common keys, distribution locations and the telephone number(s) for enquiry.
(g) The specifications for the design of stairlifts in Hong Kong are formulated by the EMSD in accordance with international standards. All self-operated stairlifts are equipped with call-buttons enabling users to seek assistance from operational personnel. In cases where unaccompanied people with severe disabilities or with upper limb movement difficulties need to use stairlifts, they may press the call-button to seek assistance from operational personnel.
Thank you, Madam President.
Ends/Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:02
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