WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1977
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WELFARE AGENCIES ENCOURAGED TO SET UP MORE CHILD CARE CENTRES
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PROGRESS HAS NOT BEEN TOO SATISFACTORY IN THE REGISTRATION OF PRIVATE CHILD CARE CENTRES, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON. THOMAS LEE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. KO SIU-WAH ABOUT THE PROGRESS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CHILD CARE CENTRES REGULATIONS, MR. LEE SAID: +OUT OF THE 90 SUCH CENTRES WHICH HAVE APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION, ONLY 30 OF THEM WILL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE REGISTRATION BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH. THIRTY-ONE CENTRES BEING GROSSLY UNSUITABLE AND BASICALLY UNREGISTRABLE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO CLOSE.
+ THE OTHERS ARE STILL MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR PREMISES TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE.+
MR. LEE SAID, HOWEVER, THAT AS FAR AS CHILD CARE CENTRES RUN BY WELFARE ORGANISATIONS WERE CONCERNED, PROGRESS HAD BEEN SATISFACTORY.
ALL THE 100 CHILD CARE CENTRES IN THIS CATEGORY HAD APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE ORDINANCE, HE SAID. IT WAS EXPECTED THAT ABOUT 81 WOULD HAVE COMPLETED REGISTRATION BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH.
+ THE OTHERS ARE ACTIVELY MAKING ALTERATIONS TO THE IR PREMISES WITH FINANCIAL HELP FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF PUBLIC WORKS AND FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENTS, + HE ADDED.
ANSWERING ANOTHER QUESTION FROM MISS KO CONCERNING THE PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN BEING DISPLACED BY THE CLOSURE OF SUB- STANDARD NURSERIES, THE DIRECTOR ASSURED THAT WHEN WE TAKE ACTION AGAINST ANY OF THE CENTRES WHICH MUST BE CLOSED DOWN, OUR SOCIAL WORKERS WILL LOOK INTO THE INDIVIDUAL CASES OF CHILDREN INVOLVED AND DISCUSS WITH THE PARENTS ABOUT THE NEED FOR PLACEMENT OF THE IR CHILDREN.+
+ IN CASES WHERE NO SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENT CAN BE MADE BY THEIR PARENTS AND WHERE A CHILD IS IN NEED OF CARE OR PROTECTION, TEMPORARY INSTITUTIONAL CARE WILL BE PROVIDED, + HE SAID.
MR. LEE DISCLOSED THAT DURING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR WELFARE AGENCIES WOULD BE SETTING UP NEW NURSERIES WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE LOTTERIES FUND AND GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION TO PROVIDE 1,100 NEW PLACES, VAKING A TOTAL OF 11,000 PLACES PROVIDING CHILD CARE SERVICE.
IN ADDITION, WELFARE AGENCIES MERE BEING ENCOURAGED TO SET. UP MORE CENTRES AS PREMISES IN NEW HOUSING ESTATES EECOME AVAILABLE, HE SAID.