TO REGULAR BEAT THE STREET, FOR OTHER PUBLIC
"ABOUT 60 PER CENT OF THESE ARE ASSIGNED PATROLS, AND ANOTHER 30 PER CENT TO OTHER DUTIES ON EXAMPLE CROWD CONTROL AT MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS AND FUNCTIONS.
"THE REMAINING 10 PER CENT ARE EMPLOYED ON ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES IN POLICE STATIONS, THEREBY RELEASING THEIR REGULAR COUNTERPARTS FOR BEAT PATROL AND OTHER OPERATIONAL DUTIES,
H MR ASPREY
SAID.
MANPOWER IN SPEECH THERAPY SERVICE WILL IMPROVE IN 1992
THE MANPOWER SITUATION IN THE SPEECH THERAPY SERVICE WILL IMPROVE IN 1992 WHEN THE FIRST BATCH OF STUDENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SPEECH AND HEARING SCIENCES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG GRADUATES.
THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON BLIZABETH WONG; SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN REPLYING ΤΟ A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP.
MRS WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAS IN THE PAST, EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS IN THE RECRUITMENT OF QUALIFIED SPEECH THERAPISTS.
MRS WONG SAID SHE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY INCREASE IN THE INCIDENCE OF SPEECH PROBLEMS IN RESPECT OF PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN DUR TO THE INFLUENCE OF DOMESTIC HELPERS FROM THE PHILIPPINES OR THE EXPOSURE OF THE CHILDREN OF NEW IMMIGRANTS ΤΟ A MULTI-DIALECT ENVIRONMENT.
"SPEECH PROBLEMS GENERALLY INCLUDE
DELAYED
LANGUAGE
IN
DEVELOPMENT, UNINTELLIGIBLE SPEECH, DEFICIENCY IN FLUENCY, DEFECTS ARTICULATION, AND OTHER FORMS OF PHONOLOGICAL DISORDER.
HEARING
"THEY MAY BE CAUSED BY DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY, IMPAIRMENT, MENTAL RETARDATION, AUTISM, CEREBRAL PALSY, BEHAVIOURAL OR PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS, AND POOR SOCIAL AND LINGUISTIC ENVIRONMENT,' THE SECRETARY SAID.
MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT SPEECH THERAPY SERVICE FOR PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN HAVING PROBLEMS OF LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT OR SPEECH IMPAIRMENT WAS PROVIDED BY THE CHILD ASSESSMENT CENTRES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
RECORDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SHOWED THAT THE PERCENTAGES OF SPEECH DELAY PROBLEMS IN THE CASES REFERRED то CHILD ASSESSMENT CENTRES WERE ABOUT 45 PER CENT IN 1983, DECREASING TO 4,1 PER CENT IN 1988 AND 38 PER CENT IN 1989.
THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF CASES OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS INVOLVING SPEECH THERAPHY SERVICES FOR PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN REFERRED ΤΟ CHILD ASSESSMENT CENTRES WAS 435 PER ANNUM, 428 CASES WERE REFERRED TO SUCH CENTRES LAST YEAR AS COMPARED WITH 471 IN 1983, FOR EXAMPLE,
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