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SLW urges single elderly persons in need to seek agency services (with photos)
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     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, this afternoon (January 25) visited an elderly singleton in To Kwa Wan to show his care, and paid a special visit to the 24-hour Call and Care Centre of the Senior Citizen Home Safety Association to express thanks to the staff and volunteers there.

     Mr Cheung, together with staff of the Social Welfare Department (SWD), visited a single elderly person living in a rental subdivided flat in To Kwa Wan. He brought him items for keeping warm, and chatted with him to understand his welfare needs. Mr Cheung reminded all elderly persons to keep warm during cold weather and encouraged them to seek help from the SWD or other welfare agencies whenever necessary.

     "Elderly care and support for the disadvantaged top the current-term Government's policy agenda. Upon the prediction of cold spells, our elderly support teams and elderly care units in all districts will take the initiative to contact elderly singletons to cater for their any need of cold prevention provision. The 65 Integrated Family Service Centres and two Integrated Service Centres will also provide necessary support for those in need," Mr Cheung said.

     Mr Cheung then turned to the headquarters of the Senior Citizen Home Safety Association in Ho Man Tin to visit its 24-hour Call and Care Centre. Noting that the hotline centre handled a record-breaking number of emergency hospital referral cases yesterday, Mr Cheung paid tribute to the staff for their dedication and professionalism during the cold weather, and also expressed thanks to some elderly volunteers. He said the Government would continue to strengthen its collaboration with the social welfare sector to serve more people in need.

     In preparation for the recent cold spell, the SWD alerted various non-governmental organisations to keep a close watch on and proactively show care for the elderly and the needy. Whenever the Cold Weather Warning is in force, the SWD will ask all Support Teams for the Elderly attached to the 41 District Elderly Community Centres in the territory and district elderly service units to remind elderly persons through phone calls about weather changes and relevant winter precautionary measures. They will also proactively approach and follow up with single elderly persons and provide them with essential warm items according to individual needs.

Ends/Monday, January 25, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:56

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