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The Government has allocated $19.2 billion to provide a wide variety of services for people with disabilities this financial year, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said today (August 15).
This represented 6.4% of the Government's total public expenditure.
The services include the provision of medical, education, rehabilitation, employment and transport services as well as Comprehensive Social Security Assistance and Disability Allowance.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 3rd Hong Kong Conference for People with Mental Handicaps, Mr Cheung said the Labour and Welfare Bureau would provide an additional 671 residential care places and 480 day care places for people with disabilities this financial year.
"Tender will soon be invited for converting the former South Kwai Chung Jockey Club Polyclinic and the former Ma Tau Wai Girls' Home in Ho Man Tin into two integrated rehabilitation service centres to provide a total of 490 residential places and 450 day training or vocational rehabilitation service places, meeting 73% and 93% of the targets for this year respectively," he said.
Noting that timely support for people with disabilities was crucial to their development and integration into the community, Mr Cheung said that since January this year, the Government had set up 16 one-stop district support centres to enhance integrated home-based training and support services for the group and their family members.
"We see progressive development of the rights of people with disabilities over the years, and will organise a series of public education activities to promote the spirit of equality, accessibility and integration to tie in with the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Hong Kong. Efforts will also be made to encourage the group to participate in social, cultural and art activities on an equal footing to develop their potential and facilitate their integration into society," he said.
The 3rd Hong Kong Conference for People with Mental Handicaps, organised by the Hong Kong Joint Council of Parents of the Mentally Handicapped, is aimed at enhancing public understanding of the mentally impaired and fostering an inclusive society. The theme this year is to encourage people with disabilities to lead prosperous lives and promote a positive attitude of the public towards them.
Ends/Saturday, August 15, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:10
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