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Recurrent funding for rehabilitation services increased by more than 8%
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     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said today (March 7) that the estimated recurrent expenditure of some $3.52 billion on rehabilitation services in 2010-11 accounted for an increase of some 8.2% over the revised estimate of $3.26 billion in 2009-10.

     Additional funding will be allocated to various rehabilitation services, medical social services and Rehabuses, he added.

     Mr Cheung made the remark whilst attending the 45th Anniversary of Hong Chi Association in the evening and enjoyed "A Taste of Love" dinner with 145 grassroot residents from Tai Po and North District.

     He noted that the forward-looking measures on residential care and community support services for persons with disabilities (PWDs) announced in the 2010-11 Budget demonstrated the Government's determination in helping the PWDs and their carers raise their quality of life.

     He said, "Altogether 939 additional subvented residential care places will be provided in the next two years, amounting to 14% of the 6,700-plus PWDs currently on the waitlist. A pilot Bought Place Scheme to encourage operators of private residential care homes to improve their service quality will also be introduced in support of the licensing scheme to be implemented and to increase supply of residential care places.
  
     "We will break new ground and launch a pilot scheme on home-based nursing care and rehabilitation training with an allocation of $163 million from the Lotteries Fund. We will start first with Kwun Tong and Tuen Mun, where there are more persons with severe disabilities on the waitlist for residential care. This three-year pilot will save altogether 540 PWDs plus their carers the hassle of travelling to and from district centres for services - a big leap forward in providing tailor-made community care by professional care workers, therapists and nurses."

     On employment, Mr Cheung said that 160 additional places for day training and 100 additional places for vocational rehabilitation services will be provided.  Coupled with the recurrent funding already earmarked, some 290 places for day training and 420 places for vocational rehabilitation services will be available in 2010-11.

     Mr Cheung thanked the Hong Chi Association for its devotion in serving the mentally handicapped and their families in the past 45 years.  By providing quality education and pertinent training, the Association brings their potential into full play and helps them integrate into the community.

     He also extended his appreciation to JW Marriott Hotel for its commitment in caring for the under-privileged by providing training and internship opportunities to Hong Chi Association's trainees.  He hoped that more enterprises would follow suit to build a harmonious society through the tripartite cooperation among the government, businesses and the community.

Ends/Sunday, March 7, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:37

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