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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1989
AND
A REVIEW OF DENTAL POLICY WAS PRESENTLY BEING UNDERTAKEN BY A SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE PROPOSALS RELATING TO THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF DENTAL SCHOOL CHILDREN MIGHT EMANATE FROM THIS WIDER REVIEW.
SERVICES
FOR
TURNING ΤΟ SOCIAL WELFARE. MR SHIPMAN SAID THAT BY AND LARGE. HONG KONG PARENTS HAD BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE A STABLE AND LOVING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEIR CHILDREN COULD DEVELOP ΤΟ THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL.
"TO FOSTER GOOD FAMILY RELATIONS, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE VARIOUS VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ENERGETICALLY PROMOTE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THE IMPORTANCE OF DAY CRECHES AND NURSERIES IN HELPING PARENTS COPE WITH THE DEMANDS OF A BUSY WORKING LIFE AND THE CARE OF THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN.
CURRENT
MR SHIPMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THAT THE PROVISION OF 19,000 AIDED NURSERY PLACES WAS INSUFFICIENT то MEET GROWING DEMAND.
"TO REDUCE THE RISK OF PARENTS LEAVING YOUNG CHILDREN UNATTENDED AT HOME, OR WITH INEXPERIENCED CHILD-MINDERS, IT IS PLANNED THAT 1.600 ADDITIONAL PLACES WILL BE PROVIDED EACH YEAR UNTIL THE DEMAND IS MET," HE SAID.
"THE POSSIBILITY OF PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS TO PLACE THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN IN NURSERIES OR CRECHES FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME IS UNDER CONSIDERATION," HE SAID.
TURNING TO FAMILY BREAKDOWN OR DISHARMONY, MR SHIPMAN NOTED THAT CHILDREN OFTEN SUFFERED THE MOST FROM SUCH SITUATIONS, SOMETIMES RESULTING IN CHILDREN HAVING TO BE CARED FOR AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES.
"BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO MAINTAINING THE CHILD WITHIN THE FAMILY WHEREVER POSSIBLE, INSTITUTIONAL CARE IS ALWAYS TREATED AS THE LAST RESORT.
"WHENEVER POSSIBLE, CHILDREN ARE PLACED IN ONE OF 12 SMALL GROUP HOMES' OR WITH FOSTER FAMILIES. IT IS HOPED THAT THESE FACILITIES CAN PROVIDE THE BEST ALTERNATIVE TO THEIR OWN FAMILIES, HE SAID.
F
A STEERING GROUP, COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, WAS REVIEWING THE DEMAND, PROVISION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF RESIDENTIAL CARE SERVICES AND REGULAR REPORTS WERE BEING SUBMITTED, MR SHIPMAN SAID.
IN ORDER ΤΟ HELP CHILDREN FROM BECOMING SUBJECTED то UNDESIRABLE INFLUENCE. HE SAID THERE WERE 20 OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK TEAMS WHOSE STAFF TRIED TO ESTABLISH DIRECT CONTACT WITH VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN PLACES WHICH THEY FREQUENTED, SUCH AS PUBLIC PLAYGROUNDS.
/ON CHILD
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