HK government provides better home for elderly: Tung
( 2001-12-24 17:19 ) (8 )

The annual expenses the Hong Kong government provided for the elderly welfare services has doubled in the past four years, up to US$410 million, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said Monday in Hong Kong.

After his visit to St. James Settlement, a social services center in Wanchai district on Hong Kong Island, Tung said the government has placed great importance in providing services for the elderly in the past four years.

The total annual expense for the elderly has risen to 3.2 billion HK dollars (US$410 million) this year from 1.6 billion Hong Kong dollars over the past four years, he added.

"We have the goal to provide a better home for the elderly so that they have a sense of belonging here and are well taken care of," he said, citing the example that the waiting period for public housing for the elderly has shortened to two years from the original four years.

Also, the places at elderly homes have also increased 1.5 times to 23,500. In 1997, only about 30 privately-run elderly homes met the requirements to get licenses, but now, about 513 elderly homes meet those requirements, accounting for about 99 percent of the total elderly homes in Hong Kong.

"We will continue to work hard in providing services for the elderly and we especially feel that we should put more effort in this area when we see the elderly during this Christmas season," Tung said.