WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
THE UNOFFICIALS ALSO NOTED THAT SINCE NO TIME LIMIT HAD BEEN STIPULATED IN THE BILL FOR THE NOTIFICATION OF CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO BE MADE, ITS ENFORCEMENT WOULD BE DIFFICULT.
ACCORDINGLY, DR FANG MOVED AN AMENDMENT DURING COMMITTEE STAGE TO IMPOSE A TIME LIMIT OF ONE MONTH TO THE PROVISIONS CONCERNED.
TWO OTHER UNOFFICIALS ALSO SPOKE ON THE BILL.
THE REV THE HON JOYCE M BENNETT SUPPORTED THE BILL WITH CONSIDERABLE RESERVATION ABOUT ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
+1 SUPPORT THE BILL IN THE HOPE THAT IT WILL PROVIDE A FURTHER INCENTIVE TO THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE TO TAKE MORE POSITIVE ACTION IN REGARD TO CHILDREN IN CARE AND THOSE IN NEED OF SOME KIND OF RESIDENTIAL OR FOSTER HOME, SHE EXPLAINED.
MISS BENNETT POINTED OUT THAT ABOUT 50 MORE PLACES WOULD BE NEEDED A YEAR IN RESIDENTIAL OR FOSTER HOMES TO MEET THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS RESULTING FROM THIS BILL.
+CLEARLY WE DO NOT AT THE MOMENT HAVE ENOUGH PLACES FOR CHILDREN, WHO IN TIME OF CRISIS REQUIRE PLACEMENT IN CHILDREN'S HOMES.
+WE RECALL CASES IN RECENT TIMES WHERE CHILDREN ORPHANED BY THE SUDDEN DEATH OF THEIR PARENTS BY FIRE OR ACCIDENT, COULD NOT BE PLACED IN THE SAME CHILDREN'S HOME AND REMAIN UNITED TOGETHER.
+SUCH TRAGEDIES SHOULD BELONG TO THE PAST WHEN THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING CHILDREN OF THE SAME FAMILY TOGETHER HAD NOT BEEN RECOGNISED, SHE SAID.
WHILE NOTING THAT THE PROVISION OF MORE FOSTER HOMES WOULD BE IDEAL, MISS BENNETT WARNED THAT CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN OUT OF THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL BACKGROUND WHEN THEY WERE PLACED IN A FOSTER HOME.
SHE SAID SHE HAD RECENTLY BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE DANGERS THAT COULD ENSUE WHEN THIS OCCURRED.
SHE ASKED IF THE GOVERNMENT COULD UNDERTAKE A PUBLICITY DRIVE TO ENCOURAGE SUITABLE FAMILIES TO CONSIDER FOSTERING HOMELESS CHILDREN.
+WHAT MORE IS THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE PLANNING TO ENSURE THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS BILL?
+WHAT POSITIVE ENCOURAGEMENT IS HE GIVING TO THE VOLUNTARY
AGENCIES IN THESE MATTERS?+
DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI MAINTAINED THAT TWO CONSTRAINTS MUST BE OVERCOME IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE SMOOTH ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROVISIONS.
/THE FIRST