Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ11: Stairlifts installed in public places
Following is a question by the Hon Lau Wai hing, Emily and a written reply by
the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative
Council today (March 28):
Question:
At present, stairlifts facilitating movements of disabled persons are installed
next to the staircases of some public facilities such as footbridges. Some of
the stairlifts can be operated by disabled persons themselves with the use of
common keys, and duplicate common keys may be purchased from three
rehabilitation organisations. Recently, I have received complaints that the
selling price of $15 for a duplicate common key is too high, and many disabled
persons have not been informed that they can purchase duplicate common keys to
operate stairlifts. Moreover, the need for disabled persons to press buttons in
order to operate stairlifts causes inconvenience to people with hand
disabilities or with difficulties in hand movements. In this connection, will
the Executive Authorities inform this Council:
(a) of the current number of stairlifts installed in public places which can be
operated by using common keys;
(b) of the people eligible to purchase duplicate common keys and the number of
duplicate common keys sold so far;
(c) of the reasons for the higher fee for duplicating the common key as compared
to ordinary key, and whether the authorities will consider providing duplicate
common keys free of charge to those low-income earners and recipients of
Comprehensive Social Security Assistance who have such a need;
(d) whether they will step up publicity to promote the use of common keys among
disabled persons; and
(e) whether they will improve the design of stairlifts for easier operation?
Reply:
Madam President,
My reply to the five parts of the question is as follows:
(a) The Honourable Member should be referring to the common key actuated
wheelchair stairlifts. According to data provided by the Electrical and
Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), as at the end of 2006, a total of 75
common key actuated (self-operated) stairlifts were installed in 59 public
places across the territory.
(b) The use of common key actuated wheelchair stairlifts was first proposed by
representatives of the rehabilitation sector in 1997, and the measure has been
adopted by EMSD as one of the specifications in the design of wheelchair
stairlifts since 1999. There are no specific eligibility criteria governing the
use of wheelchair stairlifts. Anybody in need, such as wheelchair users or
people with mobility difficulties, may purchase a common key and use these
wheelchair stairlifts.
(c) People in need may purchase the common keys through the non-profit-making
ordering service provided by three rehabilitation agencies, namely the
Rehabilitation Alliance Hong Kong, Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power and Hong Kong
Federation of Handicapped Youth. We do not have information on the total number
of people who have purchased the common keys between 1999 and now. However,
according to the data provided by the above three agencies, a total of about 200
common keys are sold every month.
(d) The common keys, provided by the supplier at a unit price of $15, are
sourced from the original manufacturer. These keys are manufactured strictly
according to specific specifications for operating all wheelchair stairlifts. At
present, the three rehabilitation agencies, which offer ordering service for the
common keys, sell the keys to people in need at the original price fixed by the
manufacturer. For CSSA recipients, they may apply for the special grant under
the CSSA Scheme to reimburse the expenses.
(e) At the end of last year, a number of Members of the Legislative Council
wrote to the Administration proposing free distribution of common keys to people
in need. In our reply, we agreed to distribute the common key free of charge to
every wheelchair user and everyone with mobility difficulties. To ensure the
correct and safe use of common key actuated wheelchair stairlifts by people in
need, we are now working with relevant government departments to draw up a
user's guidelines. Printing of the user's guidelines and application forms as
well as procurement of the common keys are also underway. It is expected that
free common keys can be distributed in 2-3 months' time.
(f) At present, the use and operation of common key actuated wheelchair
stairlifts are promoted by the Joint Council for the Physically and Mentally
Disabled Hong Kong and most rehabilitation agencies for the physically disabled
through their newsletters and web pages. Publicity efforts will also be stepped
up to coincide with the launching of the free distribution of common keys,
including promotion on the web pages of relevant government departments and
rehabilitation agencies and in the latter's monthly/quarterly newsletters; and
posting of notices in public places installed with common key actuated
wheelchair stairlifts informing the general public about the free distribution
of common keys, distribution locations and the telephone number(s) for enquiry.
(g) The specifications for the design of stairlifts in Hong Kong are formulated
by the EMSD in accordance with international standards. All self-operated
stairlifts are equipped with call-buttons enabling users to seek assistance from
operational personnel. In cases where unaccompanied people with severe
disabilities or with upper limb movement difficulties need to use stairlifts,
they may press the call-button to seek assistance from operational personnel.
Thank you, Madam President.
Ends/Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:02
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