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SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1987
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS WOULD INCLUDE THE CREATION OF POSTS FOR AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST 1, AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AIDE, A PHYSIOTHERAPIST AND A SPEECH THERAPIST IN SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRES.
ON STAFFING, THE RATIO OF 1:6 WOULD BE INTRODUCED IN SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRES WHILE THAT FOR THE EARLY EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRES WOULD BE 1:20. STAFFING PROVISION FOR RESIDENTIAL SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRES WOULD ALSO BE IMPROVED.
SHE NOTED THAT THE TOTAL COST OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD BE
IN EXCESS OF $1 MILLION THIS YEAR AND ABOUT $6 MILLION IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS.
FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, MRS CHAN SAID, A SPECIAL WORKING GROUP WAS FORMED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN EARLY 1986 TO TRY TO OBTAIN AN ACCURATE FIGURE ON DEMAND FOR PRE-SCHOOL SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN.
+IN ADDITION, I AM SURE THAT THE IMMINENT COMING ON LINE OF THE CO-ORDINATED REFERRAL SYSTEM, WHICH WILL CENTRALISE ALL REFERRALS FOR PRE-SCHOOL SERVICES FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, WILL ALSO GREATLY ASSIST US IN OBTAINING A REALISTIC PICTURE OF SERVICE DEMAND, SHE SAID.
MRS CHAN SAID THAT SHE WAS WELL AWARE OF THE CONCERN OF BOTH PARENTS AND WELFARE AGENCIES IN THIS SERVICE AREA AND SHE REASSURED THEM THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS PRESSING AHEAD AS FAST AS IT COULD ON THIS FRONT.
SHE THANKED THE HEEP HONG SOCIETY FOR ITS UNFAILING EFFORTS IN PROVIDING REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN SINCE 1963.
THE SOCIETY OPERATES THREE SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRES AND FOUR EARLY EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRES SERVING A TOTAL OF 401 CHILDREN.
THE REPROVISIONING OF THE PAK TIN CENTRE HAD BEEN MADE POSSIBLE WITH A $300 000 GRANT FROM THE SIR ROBERT HO TUNG FUND.
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