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Question No.5
REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH & WELFARE
TO A QUESTION ASKED BY THE HON MRS PAULINE NG
IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 2 DECEMBER 1987
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5. Mis NG asked
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Will Government inform this Council how effective
(in Cantonese): the fee assistance scheme for pre-primary services
has been since its introduction in 1982?
SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND
Sir,
WELFARE:
This scheme provides for fee assistance to enable
children from low-income families to attend day nurseries
and kindergartens. Since its introduction in 1982, the
scheme has helped an average of about 11,300 children each
year to attend day nurseries and a further 8,300 to attend
kindergartens, and I believe that it can be said to have
been generally effective.
2.
Eligibility for fee assistance and the amount of
assistance granted in, each case are calculated in accordance
with quite a complicated formula and increases in family
incomes and fees since 1982 have resulted in the number of
children assisted falling both in absolute numbers and as a
proportion of the capacity of the nurseries although the
total expenditure has risen from nearly $21 M in 1982/83 to
over $40 M in 1986/87. The Social Welfare Department is now