THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1984
14
MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE CAME INTO FORCE IN 1976, REQUIRING THE REGISTRATION OF ALL CHILD CARE CENTRES AND NURSERIES IN HONG KONG.
AT THE SAME TIME, A CHILD CARE CENTRE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE WAS SET UP IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO GIVE ADVICE AND GUIDANCE TO OPERATORS OF THESE CENTRES.
AT THE END OF APRIL THIS YEAR, THERE WERE 238 REGISTERED CHILD CARE CENTRES, PROVIDING MORE THAN 23 000 PLACES FOR CHILDREN UNDER SCHOOL AGE. THERE ARE ALSO 66 CHILD CARE CENTRES THAT ACCEPT HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.
MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT IN 1981. THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED A FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO ENABLE LESS WELL-OFF FAMILIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED.
+EACH YEAR, THERE IS A STEADY INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CHILD CARE PLACES PROVIDED, MANY OF THEM IN THE HOUSING ESTATES BUILT IN OUR NEW TOWNS, HE SAID.
REFERRING TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WILL BE STUDIED IN THE PROGRAMME, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT NOT EVERYONE WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO LIVE IN THE FINE NEW ESTATES BEING BUILT IN THE NEW TOWNS.
IN THE LESS DEVELOPED PARTS OF HONG KONG, LIKE THE TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS, SQUATTER AREAS AND THE REMAINING RURAL AREAS OF THE TERRITORY, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WAS +AN IMPORTANT PROGRAMME WHICH ENSURES THAT THE NEEDS OF OUR LESS FORTUNATE CITIZENS ARE NOT LOST SIGHT OF.+
STUDENTS INVITED TO APPLY FOR AID
***
THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON STUDENT FINANCE IS INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE FOR THE 1984-85 ACADEMIC YEAR.
THE COMMITTEE ADMINISTERS THE GOVERNMENT'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME FOR NEEDY STUDENTS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.
+THE SCHEME PROVIDES OUTRIGHT GRANTS AND INTEREST-FREE LOANS FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING FULL-TIME COURSES AT THE UNIVERSITIES, THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC AND THE NEW CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG, AS WELL AS FULL-TIME POST-ADVANCED LEVEL STUDENTS OF THE BAPTIST COLLEGE,+ A COMMITTEE SPOKESMAN SAID.
STUDENTS MEETING