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The Director of Social Welfare, Mr Patrick Nip, said that in the face of an increasingly ageing population, the Government will make continuous efforts to develop elderly services with a view to helping elders lead a fruitful and joyful life so as to achieve the objective of "Active Ageing".
Speaking at the 2010-11 Award Presentation Ceremony of the Opportunities for the Elderly Project (OEP) today (October 29), Mr Nip said, "Launched by the Social Welfare Department in 1998-99, the OEP has subsidised various social service agencies, district organisations, schools and volunteer groups in running a wide range of programmes in order to encourage elders to actively take part in community affairs and make good use of their expertise and ample experience in life to further their contribution to society.
"The OEP also provides the elderly with opportunities to continue learning based on their own preferences, enabling them to keep abreast of the times and lead a fruitful life. The Project encourages inter-generational support and helps to build an inclusive and harmonious society as well."
Mr Nip pointed out that strengthening elderly care services is one of the focal points of this year's Policy Address. In addition to continuously increasing the provision of residential care places and community care services (CCS), other initiatives include a proposed pilot scheme on the "Community Care Service Voucher for Elders", a "Guangdong Scheme" to provide an old age allowance for eligible Hong Kong elders who reside in Guangdong, an additional "Residential Care Supplement" for elderly recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance residing in non-subsidised residential care homes, and public transport concessions for the elderly.
"Ageing in a familiar community is the wish of most elders. Therefore, the Government, by adopting the Elderly Commission's proposal, tries to use a 'money following the user' funding mode in its planning for the pilot scheme on 'Community Care Service Voucher for Elders', which provides direct subsidies for elders to choose CCS that suit their needs. As such, diversified development in CCS will be promoted and elders will benefit from better support," he added.
"To encourage the elderly to participate in community activities, the Government proposes the provision of fare concessions for elderly aged 65 or above and eligible persons with disabilities to travel on the general Mass Transit Railway lines, franchised buses and ferries for $2 a trip. We believe this can help elders extend their interpersonal network and encourage more active participation in social and volunteer activities, thereby facilitating them to live to their full potential."
Since the launch of the OEP, over 3,400 programmes have been subsidised and the total amount of subsidy has exceeded $32 million, benefiting more than 2.2 million people. Many elders have not only participated in the OEP actively, but also helped the organisers plan and implement activities, fulfilling their sense of worthiness. In 2010-11, over 5,800 elderly volunteers participated in the OEP.
Other guests of honour who attended today's award presentation ceremony included the Chairman of the Committee on Elder Academy Development Foundation, Dr Leong Che-hung, and the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on OEP, Professor Alfred Chan. A total of 18 winning organisations were presented with the "OEP Special Award", the "District Best OEP Award" and the "Hong Kong Best OEP Award".
Ends/Saturday, October 29, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:17
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