SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1984
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+LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, SHE SAID, THE WORKING PARTY RECOGNISED THE IMPORTANCE OF MEETING IN FULL THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN OF PRE- SCHOOL AGES FOR REHABILITATION SERVICES.+
AT PRESENT, THE GOVERNMENT SUBVENTS 275 PLACES IN EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMMES FOR CHILDREN UNDER SIX, 420 PLACES IN SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRES FOR THOSE BETWEEN THE AGES OF TWO AND SIX, AND 430 INTEGRATED PLACES IN ORDINARY CHILD CARE CENTRES.
MRS BOSHER SAID THAT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED, IF RESOURCES PERMITTED, TO OPEN SIX ADDITIONAL EARLY EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRES EACH YEAR.
IT WAS ALSO INTENDED TO PROVIDE AN AVERAGE ANNUAL INCREASE OF 180 PLACES A YEAR IN SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRES AND A FURTHER 180 PLACES A YEAR IN INTEGRATED PROGRAMMES IN ORDINARY CHILD CARE CENTRES AND KINDERGARTENS.
MRS BOSHER SAID THAT TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE WOULD REQUIRE CLOSE AND CONTINUING COOPERATION AMONG THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, OPERATORS OF CHILD CARE CENTRES AND KINDERGARTENS, AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS.
MRS BOSHER PAID TRIBUTE TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, SUCH AS THE HEEP HONG SOCIETY, FOR THEIR ROLE IN PIONEERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SERVICES FOR VERY YOUNG DISABLED CHILDREN.
THE KWAI SHING CENTRE IS THE THIRD SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRE TO BE OPERATED BY THE SOCIETY.
THE SOCIETY'S CENTRES NOW CATER FOR MORE THAN 370 HANDICAPPED CHILDREN BETWEEN BIRTH AND SIX YEARS OF AGE.
THE SOCIETY'S FIRST HELP OUTREACH PROGRAMME, NOW OPERATING FROM FOUR BASES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, WAS ONE OF THE FIRST EXPERIMENTAL EARLY-INTERVENTION PROJECTS FOR INFANTS IN HONG KONG.
PUBLIC WARNED ABOUT SUMMER DISEASES *****
THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY (SATURDAY) REMINDED THE PUBLIC TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST CHOLERA AND OTHER GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASES, SUCH AS TYPHOID AND DYSENTERY, DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT VIRAL HEPATITIS AND FOOD POISIONING ARE ALSO COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE WARM WEATHER.
HE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS THIS YEAR, FIVE PEOPLE HAD DIED OF VIRAL HEPATITIS.
/STATISTICS COMPILED