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GOOD PROGRESS MADE IN IMPLEMENTING FEE SCHEME
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SMOOTH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN IMPLEMENTING THE FEE
ASSISTANCE SCHEME FOR PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES, WHICH COMES INTO EFFECT IN SEPTEMBER, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
SHE WAS SPEAKING AT THE RENAMING CEREMONY OF THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS' CHAN HAN DAY NURSERY IN SAU MAU PING.
SHE SAID THE AIM OF THE SCHEME, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE WHITE PAPER ON PRIMARY EDUCATION AND PRE- PRIMARY SERVICES, WAS TO MAKE CHILD CARE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO MORE FAMILIES.
+LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WILL RECEIVE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE IN MEETING FEES FOR CHILD CARE PLACES,+ SHE SAID.
MRS CHAN NOTED THAT IN HONG KONG, THE DEMAND FOR CHILD CARE SERVICES WAS STRONG BECAUSE FOR MANY FAMILIES, CHILDREN COULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY CARED FOR AT HOME. +THERE ARE VARIOUS FACTORS INVOLVED, SHE SAID. THE HOME MAY BE TOO CROWDED, OR BOTH PARENTS HAVE TO GO OUT TO WORK.+
THE WHITE PAPER IS AIMED AT FURTHER IMPROVING PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES, WITH EMPHASIS ON CARE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN.
THE INTENTION IS TO ENABLE CHILDREN TO ACHIEVE BALANCED DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL CAPABILITIES IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF CREATIVE PLAY ACTIVITIES AND LEARNING.
MRS CHAN SAID THAT SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE, THE STANDARDS OF CHILD CARE CENTRES HAD GRADUALLY BEEN RAISED. +CHILD CARE SERVICES HAVE ACHIEVED THE DESIRED RESULTS WITH THE CLOSE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THOSE ORGANISATIONS PROVIDING SUCH SERVICES, SHE ADDED.
MRS CHAN PAID TRIBUTE TO THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS FOR
ITS WORK IN THE FIELD OF CHILD WELFARE.
TUNG WAH OPERATES SEVEN CHILD CARE CENTRES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY, PROVIDING MORE THAN 700 CHILD CARE PLACES.
SHE NOTED THAT TUNG WAH WAS NOW PLANNING TO SET UP THREE NEW CHILD CARE CENTRES IN THE NEW TOWNS OF TAI PO, FANLING AND TUEN MUN OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. THE NEW CENTRES WILL BRING AN ADDITIONAL 400 CHILD CARE PLACES,
+THIS NO DOUBT IS GOOD NEWS FOR THOSE MOVING INTO THE NEW TOWNS, + MRS CHAN SAID.
FRESH WATER CUT IN MID-LEVELS
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FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN THE MID-LEVELS WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 11 PM ON WEDNESDAY (JULY 21) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR A LEAKAGE TEST.
THE PREMISES AFFECTED WILL BE NOS. 15-19 GARDEN ROAD, 44 KENNEDY ROAD, 22 ALBANY ROAD AND THOSE IN MACDONNELL ROAD AND BOWEN ROAD.
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