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The 16 district support centres to provide one-stop community support services for persons with disabilities (PWDs) living in the community, their families and carers is one of the key measures of the Government's district-based strategy.
Speaking at the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation's golden jubilee dinner tonight (November 6), the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said, "During my visit to a district centre sometime ago, I saw PWDs receiving rehabilitation training while their parents were counselled on stress management by a clinical psychologist.
"This arrangement is exactly what the centres are meant to achieve: to help relieve the PWDs' anxiety and stress as they wait for residential care places, while at the same time help alleviate the burden on the families and carers."
On the transportation needs of PWDs, Mr Cheung said that apart from Rehabus service, the Government provides economic support through the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) and Disability Allowance (DA) schemes to encourage PWDs participate in community activities so as to integrate into society.
"In 2009-10, more than $8.6 billion has been allocated for the above purposes, of which $7.7 million is for acquiring six new Rehabuses and replacing four old ones, bringing the total number to 115. These buses provide transport services to PWDs who have difficulties in using public transport," Mr Cheung said.
Moreover, the Legislative Council passed an amendment to the Disability Discrimination Ordinance two days ago to allow the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) Corporation to implement the Half Fare Promotion Scheme. The scheme offers half fare concessions to PWDs who are either recipients of the CSSA Scheme aged between 12 and 64 with 100% disability or recipients of DA in the same age group.
"PWDs who are eligible for the scheme will receive the verified application forms from the Social Welfare Department starting next week. Eligible PWDs will enjoy half fare on MTR rides from December 22 onwards," Mr Cheung added.
Mr Cheung commended the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation (HKSA) for playing an active role in promoting the well-being of PWDs and advising the Government on issues relating to PWDs. He said he hoped that HKSA would continue to contribute in this area in the next 50 years.
Ends/Friday, November 6, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:30
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