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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1982
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PETER C. WONG, MR ALLEYNE SAID THAT +OUR ADOPTION SERVICE COMPARES WELL WITH THAT IN OTHER PLACES+ IN TERMS OF THE QUALITY OF INVESTIGATIVE WORK, MATCHING OF THE CHILD WITH PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE PARENTS, COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL FORMALITIES, AND SUBSEQUENT SUPERVISION OF THE PLACEMENT.
HE NOTED THAT IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. 58 HANDICAPPED CHILDREN FROM RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS IN HONG KONG HAD BEEN ADOPTED, THE MAJORITY OF THEM OVERSEAS BECAUSE OF DIFFICULTIES IN FINDING SUITABLE LOCAL ADOPTERS.
AT PRESENT ABOUT 80 HANDICAPPED CHILDREN IN LOCAL RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS ARE AWAITING ADOPTION.
MR ALLEYNE SAID THE S.W.D.'S ADOPTION UNIT WAS BEING STRENGTHENED AND MORE OVERSEAS ADOPTION AGENCIES IDENTIFIED TO IMPROVE THE PROSPECTS FOR THESE CHILDREN.
+WE ARE MAKING PARTICULAR EFFORTS TO PERSUADE PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE PARENTS IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, HE SAID.
+CONTINUOUS EDUCATION AND GREATER PUBLICITY IS REQUIRED AND THE ASSISTANCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE IN HANDLING MORE CASES OF OVERSEAS ADOPTIONS ON OUR BEHALF SHOULD DO MUCH TO IMPROVE THE PROSPECTS OF FINDING SUITABLE HOMES FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, HE ADDED.
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CONCERN OVER YOUNG PEOPLE ON ROADS
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THERE WERE 578 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT CASUALTIES AMONG PEDESTRIANS TRAVELLING TO OR FROM SCHOOL DURING THE YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON SELINA CHOW.
MR SCOTT EXPLAINED THAT MOST OF THESE WERE CHILDREN BUT ACCOMPANYING ADULTS WERE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE FIGURE, WHICH REPRESENTED SEVEN PER CENT OF ALL PEDESTRIAN CASUALTIES.
PEDESTRIAN CASUALTIES OF CHILDREN AGED FIVE TO 15, IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, TOTALLED 2 324, OR 25 PER CENT OF ALL SUCH CASUALTIES, HÉ REPORTED.
DURING THE SAME PERIOD, THERE WERE 3 972 CASUALTIES OF ALL KINDS INVOLVING CHILDREN UP TO 15 YEARS OLD, OR 16 PER CENT OF TOTAL CASUALTIES, MR SCOTT SAID.
CHILDREN IN THIS AGE GROUP FORM 24 PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S POPULATION.
HE SAID THAT THE VULNERABILITY OF YOUNG CHILDREN WAS A MATTER OF +VERY CONSIDERABLE CONCERN TO THE GOVERNMENT.
ROAD SAFETY INITIATIVES AIMED AT REDUCING THE TOLL OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INCLUDED INCREASING ROAD SAFETY PATROLS, LEGISLATION ON SEAT-BELT WEARING, THE PROPOSED PENALTY POINTS SYSTEM, REFLECTIVE NUMBER PLATES. IMPROVED TRAINING IN SCHOOLS AND ACCIDENT BLACK SPOT INVESTIGATIONS, MR SCOTT SAID.
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