Press Releases
SHWF visits Fu Hong Society Rehabilitation Centre
The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, today (September 9) visited people with disabilities who have taken up day and vocational training at the Fu Hong Society Rehabilitation Centre.
Dr Yeoh visited the day activity centre and then observed how the 60 sheltered workers learn the skills at the sheltered workshop where they packed textbooks and learning materials for schools. Their regular work orders also include packing of cutlery sets for fastfood restaurants and printing.
On his way, Dr Yeoh was greeted by a 11-member band formed by residents in the half-way house and staff playing a hymn called "Spirit Song".
Dr Yeoh also took the opportunity to present Mid-Autumn Festival gifts to sheltered workers and wished them a happy festive occasion.
Before ending his visit, Dr Yeoh also inspected the laundry workshop being run by 10 sheltered workers. The laundry service has secured job orders from several elderly homes and camp sites, making an average profit of about $14,000 per month.
Dr Yeoh said the government would continue to promote the well-being and interests of people with disabilities by fostering an inclusive community spirit through public education and promotion of community-based care.
"Our policy objective is to promote and provide comprehensive and effective measures for integration of people with disabilities into the community, including enhancing employment opportunities of people with disabilities by providing them with employment services and vocational training.
"In addition to subsidising rehabilitation services, the Social Welfare Department is also inviting application from non-governmental organisations to operate Integrated Vocational Rehabilitation Services for people with disabilities in a bid to enhance vocational training services and employment opportunities for them," Dr Yeoh said.
In the current financial year, the government would spend $15.9 billion on rehabilitation services, among which the welfare programmes provides 4,700 places for pre-school service, 13,300 places for day care service and 9,100 places for residential service.
"As a new initiative this year, a five-year pilot scheme is launched with $27 million funding support by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to enhance the development of people with disabilities in arts and culture. The scheme will benefit over 40,000 people with disabilities," he added.
The Fu Hong Society Rehabilitation Centre is a purpose-built centre aiming at providing better rehabilitation facilities for meeting service needs of people with disabilities. Some of the equipment at its sheltered workshop and training centres are funded by the Queen Elizabeth Foundation for the Mentally Handicapped, which is administered by the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau.
With a capacity of 517 places, it provides 11 rehabilitation service units including day activity centre, hostels for moderately mentally handicapped persons, hostels for severely physically handicapped persons with mental handicap, halfway house, on the job training programme, sheltered workshop, supported employment service and enhancing employment of people with disabilities.
End/Tuesday, September 9, 2003
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