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SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1982

APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAKE A DECLARATION OF TOTAL FAMILY INCOME, IF POSSIBLE SUPPORTED BY AN EMPLOYER'S CERTIFICATE, TOGETHER WITH INFORMATION ON THE ACTUAL RENT BEING PAID.

THE APPLICATIONS WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME VIGOROUS INVESTIGATION AS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.

THE PARENTS NEED ONLY EXPECT TO MAKE ONE VISIT TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD OFFICE AND WILL THEN BE NOTIFIED BY POST OF THE OUTCOME OF THE APPLICATION AND OF THE AMOUNT OF CONTRIBUTION TO BE MADE BY THE FAMILY TOWARDS THE FEE CHARGED IN THE NURSERY OR KINDERGARTEN.

MR ALLEYNE SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK OF THE SWD IN THE COMING MONTHS WOULD BE TO PUBLICISE AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE THE NEW PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING FOR FEE ASSISTANCE.

A PAMPHLET EXPLAINING THE NEW SCHEME TO PARENTS WILL SOON BE ISSUED AND WILL BE WIDELY DISTRIBUTED THROUGH FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES, SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD OFFICES, CITY DISTRICT AND NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT OFFICES AND NURSERIES AND KINDERGARTENS.

MR ALLEYNE AGAIN REASSURED AGENCIES OPERATING NURSERIES THAT THE NEW SCHEME WOULD NOT RESULT IN A DRAMATIC CHANGE TO THEIR PRESENT MODE OF OPERATION OR IN THEIR CENTRES RUNNING INTO DEBT.+

FROM SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, NURSERIES WOULD BE EXPECTED TO FINANCE THEIR OPERATION FROM INCOME DERIVED FROM FEES.

+HOWEVER, + MR ALLEYNE SAID, +NURSERIES WHICH OPERATE ON A NON-PROF IT-MAKING BASIS WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR A SUBVENTION EQUIVALENT TO FIVE PER CENT OF THE TOTAL INCOME THEY COULD EXPECT TO RECEIVE IF ALL THEIR PLACES ARE FILLED AT ALL TIMES.

+THEY WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE IR EXPENDITURE ON RENT AND RATES AND FOR CAPITAL GRANTS FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND.+

THE SHEK KIP MEI DAY CARE CENTRE, THE FOURTH TO BE RUN BY THE HONG KONG CHRISTIAN SERVICE, WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 200 PLACES FOR CHILDREN IN THE DENSELY POPULATED AREA, IT HAS BEEN FITTED OUT AND FURNISHED WITH A GRANT OF $693 000 FROM THE LOTTER IES FUND.

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