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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1976
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD
NEXT YEAR HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE UNITED NATIONS AS THE + INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD+. MR. CHEONG-LEEN URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ON THE U.N.'S +DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD+ THROUGH ITS FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMME AND OTHER CHANNELS. HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SET UP A TELEPHONE HOT LINE FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO MAKE USE OF THE SERVICE.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO APPOINT AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO OVERSEE AND CO-ORDINATE CULTURAL SERVICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. THERE IS ALSO A CASE FOR APPOINTING A DEPUTY DIRECTOR TO CO-ORDINATE ALL CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN'S OBSERVATIONS ON OUR SOCIAL SERVICES WERE:
HOUSING
THE HOUSING PROBLEM WILL TAKE MANY YEARS TO RESOLVE, ALTHOUGH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S EFFORTS WOULD STABILISE DOMESTIC RENTS FOR OUR LOWER INCOME GROUPS. THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME SHOULD BE EXPANDED AND THE CURRENT INCOME CEILING FOR APPLICANTS RAISED TO $4.000. HOUSING FOR CIVIL SERVANTS SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE EVENTUALITY OF THEIR RETIREMENT. IT IS DESIRABLE TO HOUSE OUR POLICEMEN IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND NOT SEGREGATE THEM FROM THE COMMUNITY.
CHILD CARE CENTRES
THE URBAN COUNCIL COULD PERHAPS EXPAND ITS SCOPE TO PROVIDE SUBVENTED NURSERIES AND CRECHES IN THE URBAN AREAS, ESPECIALLY FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS AND HOUSING ESTATES, TO COMPLEMENT THE WORK OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
PAEDIATRIC FACILITIES
MODERN PAEDIATRIC FACILITIES IN HONG KONG ARE SHOCKINGLY INSUFFICIENT. THE NEW SHATIN HOSPITAL WHICH WILL SERVE AS A TEACHING HOSPITAL FOR THE NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL, SHOULD INCLUDE A MODERN GENERAL PAEDIATRIC WING FOR RESEARCH AND TEACHING PURPOSES. FOR THE QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL AND THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, A MODERN PAEDIATRIC HOSPITAL SHOULD BE BUILT, FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE SITE OF THE CLD MENTAL HOSPITAL AT HIGH STREET.