Good care: Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung (right) visits the Providence Garden for Rehab in Tuen Mun.

About 670 additional residential places for the disabled will be offered in the next two years, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung says.

Visiting Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council's Providence Garden for Rehab in Tuen Mun today, Mr Cheung said $1.26 billion has been allocated to provide residential places for the disabled in 2009-10, and an extra 517 subsidised residential care places have been provided in the last three years.

The former Ma Tau Wai Girls' Home and South Kwai Chung Jockey Club Polyclinic are being converted into integrated rehabilitation service centres, he said.

"The two centres are expected to commence operation in 2010-11, providing altogether 490 residential places, 130 day training places and 320 vocational rehabilitation service places."

Mr Cheung said the Government will shorten the waiting time by regulating the operation of residential-care homes and introducing complementary measures for the Pilot Bought Place Scheme for Private Residential Care Homes for Persons with Disabilities.

The Government will further consult the private sector and stakeholders on the operational details of the pilot bought place scheme with a view to implementing it in 2010-11.