WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1986
5
+EXCEPTIONALLY, A CHILD MAY BE DETAINED IN A CHILDREN'S CENTRE IF THERE IS NO ONE TO TAKE CARE OF HIM OR HER OR WHEN THERE ARE STRONG INDICATIONS THAT AN OLDER CHILD WOULD ABSCOND IF RELEASED.
+ IN EVERY CASE THE CHILD'S BEST INTERESTS ARE THE FOREMOST CONSIDERATION,
IN DESCRIBING THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH, MR CHAMBERS EXPLAINED THAT THE CHILD WAS TAKEN BY HER PARENTS TO THE BIRTHS REGISTRY ON OCTOBER 30, 1985. THE CHILD'S MOTHER PRODUCED A SUSPECT IDENTITY CARD BUT BEFORE A MORE DETAILED ENQUIRY COULD BE CARRIED OUT INTO HER IDENTITY SHE FLED, AND COULD NOT BE TRACED.
THE CHILD WAS ADMITTED TO CHUK YUEN CHILDREN'S RECEPTION CENTRE WITH HER FATHER'S WRITTEN CONSENT AFTER IT WAS ESTABLISHED THAT SHE HAD NO RIGHT TO LAND IN HONG KONG AND HAD TO BE REMOVED TO CHINA.
MR CHAMBERS SAID THE CHILD WAS PHYSICALLY EXAMINED BY A VISITING MEDICAL OFFICER ON NOVEMBER 15 AND TREATED FOR AN UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION. SHE WAS SEEN AGAIN BY THE VISITING DOCTOR ON NOVEMBER 22 AND 29 AND TREATED FOR THE SAME AILMENT. LATER ON NOVEMBER 29 THE CHILD WAS FOUND TO HAVE DEVELOPED A FEVER AND WAS SENT TO QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL WHERE SHE DIED ON DECEMBER 2.
THE CORONER'S COURT FOUND THAT DEATH WAS DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES, HE NOTED.
THE CHUK YUEN CHILDREN'S RECEPTION CENTRE, THE ONLY GOVERNMENT RECEPTION CENTRE FOR CHILDREN FROM BIRTH UP TO THE AGE OF EIGHT, AT PRESENT ACCOMMODATED 64 BABIES AND CHILDREN, NONE OF WHOM WAS DETAINED AWAITING REPATRIATION, WHILE 153 WERE STAYING IN THE CTHER THREE CENTRES WITH TWO AWAITING REPATRIATION,
EXPERIENCE THE REASON FOR SERVICE EXTENSION
*****
THE REASON WHY SOME DIRECTORATE OFFICERS AGED OVER 55 ARE GRANTED EXTENSION OF SERVICE IS THAT THEIR EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS ARE STILL REQUIRED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THOSE PARTICULAR POSTS, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN, SIR DAVID SAID OUT OF A TOTAL ESTABLISHMENT OF 1 070 DIRECTORATE GRADE POSTS, 98 DIRECTORATE OFFICERS WERE SERVING BEYOND THE NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE OF 55.
HE SAID THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS WHEREBY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS WOULD NORMALLY ONLY SERVE UNTIL 57 WAS ONLY APPLICABLE TO OVERSEAS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS, THE PURPOSE BEING TO ENABLE MORE LOCAL OFFICERS TO BE GIVEN EXPERIENCE IN SENIOR POSITIONS IN THE PERIOD RUNNING UP TO 1997.+
/AS REGARDS