The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, visited Southern District today (April 17), where he called at an integrated rehabilitation service centre for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and met with District Council members. The Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Caspar Tsui, also joined the visit.

     Accompanied by the Chairman of Southern District Council (SDC), Mr Chu Ching-hong, and the District Officer (Southern), Mrs Dorothy Ma, Dr Law went to the TWGHs Jockey Club Rehabilitation Complex in Aberdeen. It is the largest-scale rehabilitation centre in Hong Kong with over 1 800 service places. It provides residential, day care and training, vocational rehabilitation and community support services to PWDs of various categories and degrees including the physically handicapped, visually impaired, mentally handicapped, ex-mentally ill and their families.

     At the centre he also visited a social enterprise employing PWDs, an exhibition of artworks by mentally handicapped persons (MHPs) and a convenience shop run and managed by PWDs. Dr Law said that the Government is committed to promoting the employment of PWDs. In 2018-19, post-placement follow-up services in vocational rehabilitation service units will be strengthened to enhance vocational rehabilitation support to PWDs. In addition, the Government has proposed to earmark $250 million as capital for a new fund to provide resources to foster the artistic development of PWDs to enhance social inclusion.

     Dr Law also toured a care and attention home (C&AH) for severely disabled persons, a residential care home for elderly MHPs and a C&AH for the aged visually impaired in the centre to learn more about their facilities and services. He pointed out that the Government is very concerned about the care needs arising from ageing of MHPs and PWDs, and additional resources would be allocated to strengthen relevant care and support in this financial year.

     Dr Law said that the recurrent expenditure on rehabilitation services in 2018-19 would increase to $34 billion, including additional resources to increase subvented rehabilitation service places (including the Work Extension Programme) and increase the number of Parents/Relatives Resource Centres to support children with disabilities and their parents.

     Noting that the first stage public consultation on the formulation of a new Hong Kong Rehabilitation Programme Plan (RPP) is being conducted to define the scope of the new RPP, he appealed to stakeholders to actively participate and express their views.

     Prior to the tour of facilities, Dr Law also visited the SDC and met with members to learn more about the latest developments and issues of concern in the district and exchange views on district matters.

Ends/Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Issued at HKT 19:35

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