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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1987
PRE-PRIMARY FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME EFFECTIVE'
THE FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME FOR PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES HAS BEEN GENERALLY EFFECTIVE, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MRS PAULINE NG, MR CHAMBERS SAID THIS SCHEME PROVIDED FOR FEE ASSISTANCE TO ENABLE CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO ATTEND DAY NURSERIES AND KINDERGARTENS.
OF ABOUT 8,300
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE SCHEME HAD HELPED AN AVERAGE 11,300 CHILDREN EACH YEAR TO ATTEND DAY NURSERIES AND A FURTHER TO ATTEND KINDERGARTENS SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION IN 1982.
MR CHAMBERS SAID ELIGIBILITY FOR FEE ASSISTANCE AND THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE GRANTED IN EACH CASE WAS CALCULATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH QUITE A COMPLICATED FORMULA.
OF
ALTHOUGH THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE HAD RISEN FROM NEARLY $21 MILLION IN 1982/83 TO OVER $40 MILLION IN 1986/87, INCREASES IN FAMILY INCOMES AND FEES SINCE 1982 HAD RESULTED IN THE NUMBER CHILDREN ASSISTED FALLING BOTH IN ABSOLUTE NUMBERS AND AS PROPORTION OF THE CAPACITY OF THE NURSERIES, HE SAID.
ANY
"THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS NOW REVIEWING THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR FEE ASSISTANCE IN DAY NURSERIES TO SEE WHEther ADJUSTMENTS ARE REQUIRED. WE SHALL BE CONSULTING THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE RESULTS OF THIS REVIEW," HE ADDED.
MR
AS REGARDS THE FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO THE KINDERGARTENS, CHAMBERS SAID THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER WAS REVIEWING THE FEE ASSISTANCE ARRANGEMENTS IN THE LIGHT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE EDUCATION COMMISSION IN ITS REPORT NO. 2.
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ADVICE TO FISHERMEN TO STEER CLEAR OF FOREIGN WATERS
HONG KONG FISHERMEN ARE ADVISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT OF THE SPECIAL ECONOMIC EXCLUSION ZONES DECLARED BY OTHER COUNTRIES TO HELP THEM AVOID STRAYING INTO FOREIGN WATERS DURING OFF-SHORE OPERATIONS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MRS RITA FAN, MR JACOBS SAID NOTICES WERE POSTED IN CONSPICUOUS LOCATIONS IN WHOLESALE FISH MARKETS AND FISHERIES OFFICES.
/REGULAR REMINDERS