WELFARE: More help for the elderly, the sick, drug abusers, battered wives and job-seekers
DRUG ABUSE
Government Laboratory to buy machines to test hair for drug residues as part of a pilot study of their use. It will examine whether test results can be used in evidence in court cases and aims to transfer the technology to the testing industry in the long term.
Scheme for voluntary drug-testing of pupils at schools in Tai Po to be completed next year before testing is extended to other districts. Students and parents in Tai Po may be asked this month to consent to testing.
Plans to relocate Christian Zheng Sheng College, a drug rehabilitation centre in south Lantau, to the vacant New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Southern District Secondary School in Mui Wo, south Lantau, and to increase the number of people the college can treat from 120 to 200, will proceed once the financial situation of the charity which operates the college is clarified.
SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY
Ratio of nursing-home places to care-home places in subsidised old people's homes to increase by 80 per cent. Currently half the places are care-home places and half are nursing-home places.
Vacant places in non-subsidised nursing and care homes to be purchased to shorten current waiting time for places of between 22 and 40 months. Private homes have 16,000 places vacant.
Five new homes for the elderly to be opened to provide an additional 500 subsidised places. Homes to be located in older districts with a high proportion of elderly residents.
Pilot scheme to be launched to provide visiting pharmacist services to homes for the elderly to increase staff knowledge of drug management and train them to implement it.
SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
New programme to be rolled out through NGOs to offer emotional support, and information about how to institute legal proceedings, to victims of domestic violence.
MENTAL HEALTH
Integrated mental-health community centres to be opened in all districts.
More medical social workers to be hired.
Hospital Authority to institute pilot case-management programmes in some districts next year to provide community support for mental patients with severe conditions.
SUPPORT FOR JOB-SEEKERS
Job-seekers to be provided with information by mobile-phone text message about vacancies and job fairs.
Recruitment centre for shop staff to be opened by mid-2010.
One-stop employment and training centre to be opened in Tin Shui Wai in the northwestern New Territories.
