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SLW joins NGO to deliver blankets to elderly (with photos)
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    The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, joined the Senior Citizen Home Safety Association's visit to deliver blankets to the elderly in Kwun Tong this morning (February 6).

    Before the visit, Mr Cheung called on the executive director of the association, Mr Timothy Ma, and his staff to show his support and appreciation of their commitment to delivering timely emergency support services to elders in need.

    The latest spell of cold weather has seen a surge in the demand for the association's services. More than 300 blankets and quilts have been distributed and over 19,200 calls for help have been received by the 24-hour Personal Emergency Link Service since the cold weather warning came into force on January 24. Nearly 1,400 cases were sent to hospital.

    The Personal Emergency Link Service is a device which connects service users through an advanced communication system to a 24-hour call centre. By pressing the main unit or the portable remote trigger, the service users can speak to the association's operator from their home. So far, the number of active users of the service stands at around 57,000. Anyone with a residential telephone line can install the "safety" call bell system.

    The Senior Citizen Home Safety Association is a non-profit-making and self-financing organisation set up in 1996 to provide services for elders living alone, persons with chronic illness and those in need.

    "Over the years, the association has expanded into an organisation with over 150 staff members and a wide spectrum of services. It is a classic example of a successful social enterprise. I am confident that the association will continue to serve the community in a proactive manner by providing innovative, unique, and user-friendly services to address the demands of the elderly and those in need," Mr Cheung said.

    Mr Cheung also took the opportunity to record a Chinese New Year message for the association's hotline service to wish all users a happy and prosperous Year of the Rat.

Ends/Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:44

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