Government releases Persons with Disabilities and Rehabilitation Programme Plan

     The Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) released today (July 3) the Persons with Disabilities and Rehabilitation Programme Plan (RPP) formulated by the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee (RAC). The Government accepted in principle the strategic directions and recommendations in the RPP, and will follow up on their implementation.
 
     The RPP sets out the vision to recognise the diversified developmental needs of persons with disabilities; respect the autonomy and independence of persons with disabilities; and establish a disability inclusive society that enables persons with disabilities to develop their capabilities, unleash their potential and contribute to society. Guided by this vision, the RPP outlines four strategic directions, underpinned by 20 themes and 62 strategic recommendations, which are summarised as follows:
 

Strategic Direction I Provide timely and appropriate support to equip persons with disabilities with the ability to cope with changes at different stages during their lifespan.
(24 strategic recommendations under seven themes)
Strategic Direction II Enhance community care services to enable persons with disabilities and their families living in the community to obtain necessary support, and be admitted to residential care homes as soon as possible when in need.
(13 strategic recommendations under five themes)
Strategic Direction III Promote disability inclusive culture, facilitate accessible environment, transportation and access to information so that persons with disabilities can fully participate in social life.
(19 strategic recommendations under six themes)
Strategic Direction IV Ensure sustainable development of diversified services for persons with disabilities in response to the changing needs.
(six strategic recommendations under two themes)

 
     "The RPP is a 'living document' covering the various service needs of persons with disabilities at different stages of their lives. The Government will, taking account of the readiness of individual strategic recommendations, continue to adopt the approach of 'implementation as and when ready' in implementing the recommendations in the short and medium-to-long terms. The RAC will continue to assist the Government in reviewing the implementation progress of the RPP strategic recommendations in accordance with the four strategic directions and making adjustments as appropriate," a spokesman for the LWB said.
 
     The RPP was last updated in 2007. The Chief Executive announced in the 2017 Policy Address that the Government has tasked the RAC to formulate a new RPP. The RAC has adopted three guiding principles in formulating the new RPP: abiding by the purpose of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; adopting a life span approach in examining the needs of persons with disabilities in different aspects and stages of their lives; and facilitating cross-sectoral and inter-departmental collaboration to establish a disability inclusive society for persons with disabilities.
 
     The formulation of the new RPP comprised three stages, namely Scoping, Formulation of Recommendations and Consensus Building, with public engagement conducted under each stage to listen to and incorporate views of the public and stakeholders as appropriate. The three stages of public engagement were carried out from March 2018 to January 2020. The RAC formally submitted the new RPP to the Government in June 2020.

     The Chinese version of the RPP final report and the reports under each stage have been uploaded to the website of the LWB (www.lwb.gov.hk). An easy-to-read version on the RPP strategic directions and themes will also be uploaded later.