Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ4: Assistance to persons with muscular dystrophy
Following is a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung and a reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (July 12):
Question:
At present, persons with muscular dystrophy (PMDs) have to wait for three years
on average before they are admitted into care and attention homes for the
severely disabled, and they will no longer enjoy the residential and
physiotherapist services provided at schools for students with physical
disability upon graduation. Also, it is often difficult for these persons to
find jobs, even if they have obtained university graduate qualifications. In
this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it knows the assistance provided to PMDs by the governments in
various developed countries, and whether it has studied which of these
countries' practices are worthy to be followed by Hong Kong;
(b) whether it plans to provide more assistance to PMDs (especially those who
have left schools for students with physical disability), as well as to take
measures to shorten the waiting time for admission into care and attention homes
for the severely disabled; if so, of the details of the plan, including the
amount of additional expenditure involved; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) whether it will take special measures to help PMDs find jobs, offer tax
concession incentives to private enterprises to encourage them to employ these
persons, and make government departments and subvented organisations take the
lead in employing them; if so, of the relevant details; if not, the reasons for
that?
Reply:
Madam President,
The Government's rehabilitation policy aims at helping people with disabilities
fully develop their potentials and talents, enjoy their lives and fully
integrate into the society, enjoying equal opportunities.
(a) Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a general term for a group of uncommon
neurological diseases mainly caused by the anomaly of cells in central nervous
system or absence of certain muscle proteins, characterised by dysfunction,
progressive degeneration and atrophy of muscles.
At present, the medical sector has yet been able to pinpoint the actual causes
of MD, neither is a treatment available for a radical cure or stopping the
deterioration of the symptoms. However, early diagnosis and treatments,
accompanied by occupational therapy and the use of rehabilitation aids, could
help slow down the deterioration, lower the emergence of complications and
improve patients' quality of life.
Both the pathology researches and treatment techniques in Hong Kong are up to
international standards in view of our advanced medical technologies and
services. Moreover, we have maintained close communication with overseas experts
in related fields. This will help bring in novel medical technologies for the
benefit of rehabilitating people with disabilities.
As in the case of other advanced countries, we provide people with muscular
dystrophy with rehabilitation and support services, including maintenance of
functional capacity, training of daily living skills, residential/home care,
special education, vocational rehabilitation, provision of assistive devices,
priority for housing allocation and modification, and disability allowance, etc.
(b) Through the provision of rehabilitation services for people with muscular
dystrophy, we seek to help them lead an independent life and maintain their
self-care capacity, thereby enabling them to continue to enjoy normal life and
social activities. To this end, we have been making vigorous efforts to develop
community rehabilitation and support services in recent years to render maximum
assistance to people with disabilities for living in the community, enjoying
family lives, taking part in community affairs and integrating fully into
society.
People with muscular dystrophy living at home may apply for home-based training
and support services, including nursing service, personal care, occupational
therapy, physiotherapy and other rehabilitation training to enhance their
self-caring capacity, to help their families and carers relieve their pressure.
In addition, we also provide people with severe disability with information on
rehabilitation aids/assistive devices needed; give them advice, financial
allowance and/or renovation service regarding household modification; and assist
to apply for relevant charity funds to facilitate their living in the community.
For persons with severely deteriorating functional capacity who cannot obtain
adequate support and care from their families or carers, they may apply for
residential care service run by the Government. Applicants under special
circumstances where family care is not available may apply for priority
allocation of residential places.
(c) The functional capacity of people with muscular dystrophy would decline
progressively. It may therefore not be suitable for people with muscular
dystrophy to engage in labour work. However, with advanced scientific and
computer assistive devices, they can engage in work that requires more mental
capacity such as computer application, writing or design, etc. Considering such
physical constraint, most of the vocational training that we design and provide
for them emphasise on these areas, in order to match with their work capacity.
They may also apply to the Central Fund for Personal Computers for acquiring
personal computers to facilitate their receiving supported employment and
setting up self-employment at home.
As the largest employer in Hong Kong, the Government fully recognises the
importance of taking a lead in employing people with disabilities in order to
help them fully integrate into society. The Government is committed to placing
people with disabilities in appropriate jobs in the Government whenever
possible. Candidates with disabilities are given an appropriate degree of
preference for appointment if they are found suitable for employment, and
applicants with muscular dystrophy will receive the same treatment.
As regard the proposed tax concession incentives, the Financial Services and the
Treasury considered the provision of taxation relief as an incentive to
encourage employers to employ people with disabilities not ideal.
We fully understand the importance of employment in facilitating integration of
people with disabilities into society. A Sub-Committee on Employment has been
set up under the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee to advise the Government on
all matters concerning employment for people with disabilities, with the goal of
improving employment prospects and exploring new employment avenues for people
with disabilities in both the public and private sectors.
Thank you.
Ends/Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:41
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