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SATURDA APRIL 13, 1985
HE SAID AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT WOULD THEN OBVIATE THE COMPANY FROM KEEPING THE INSURANCE POLICY AT THEIR BRANCHES FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, A NOTICE OF INSURANCE, COMPLETED IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH, WOULD STILL BE REQUIRED TO BE POSTED UP IN EACH PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT.
EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE FURTHER ENQUIRIES MAY CONTACT THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS DIVISION AT 5-7956407.
HOTLINE HANDLES OVER 90 000 CALLS ****
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S HOTLINE HAS HANDLED MORE THAN 90 000 CALLS SINCE IT CAME INTO OPERATION IN OCTOBER 1980 TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND PROFESSIONAL ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC ON SOCIAL WELFARE MATTERS.
+WE ARE HANDLING AN AVERAGE OF 20 000 CALLS EVERY YEAR,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
HE SAID THAT THE HOTLINE HAD PROVED TO BE EFFECTIVE IN SUPPLEMENTING SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES, SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS AND OTHER OFFICES.
+ IT IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH WE GET TO KNOW
OF CASES REQUIRING OUR ASSISTANCE, HE ADDED.
THE HOTLINE, AT 3-432255, OPERATES FROM 9 AM TO 10 PM ON WEEKDAYS AND SATURDAYS AND FROM 1 PM TO 10 PM ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. OUTSIDE THESE HOURS, MESSAGES ARE RECORDED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT THE NUMBER OF CALLS RELEVANT TO THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN ON THE INCREASE.
IN 1983, 47 PER CENT OF THE CALLS RECEIVED WERE RELEVANT TO THE SERVICES OFFERED BY THE DEPARTMENT. THIS PERCENTAGE ROSE TO NEARLY 55 PER CENT IN 1984.
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+FOR THE MONTHS OF JANUARY AND FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, THE PERCENTAGE CONTINUES TO REMAIN HIGH AT 57 PER CENT AND 56 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
PROBLEMS DEALT WITH BY THE HOTLINE FALLS INTO FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES:
* DIFFICULTIES IN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS-
* PROBLEMS RELATING TO CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
* PROBLEMS ARISING