WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1991
6
THREE APPROACHES IDENTIFIED TO TACKLE UNATTENDED CHILDREN PROBLEM
THREE POSSIBLE APPROACHES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO
AT OF PROBLEM
PARENTS LEAVING YOUNG CHILDREN UNATTENDED ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE,
HON MICHAEL TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
TACKLE HOME,
THE
THE
THE
CARTLAND,
CARTLAND
THE
EDUCATION
AND THE
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHRUNG YAN-LUNG, MR SAID
WERE APPROACHES
LEGISLATION, PUBLIC PROVISION OF CHILD CARE FACILITIES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
"ACTION MAY BE CONTEMPLATED UNDER EXISTING LEGISLATION.
"PROSECUTION FOR WILFUL NEGLECT MAY BE TAKEN UNDER THE OFFENCES LEFT AGAINST THE PERSONS ORDINANCE (CAP. 212) IN THE CASE OF CHILDREN UNATTENDED AT HOME IF THE ACT IS LIKELY TO CAUSE UNNECESSARY SUFFERING OR INJURY TO HEALTH, HE SAID.
**
THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE (CAP. 213) ALSO PROVIDED FOR THE CARE OR PROTECTION OF YOUNG
IN THESE CHILDREN CIRCUMSTANCES, HE SAID.
"WHETHER OR NOT LEGISLATION MAKING IT A SPECIFIC OFFENCE TO LEAVE YOUNG CHILDREN UNATTENDED ON ANY OCCASION SHOULD ALSO BE INTRODUCED
PRESENTLY BEING RE-EXAMINED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HE ADDED.
IS
|1
MR CARTLAND SAID PUBLICITY TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF HOME SAFETY UNATTENDED AT AND то WARN OF THE DANGERS OF LEAVING YOUNG CHILDREN HOME WAS UNDERTAKEN THROUGH TELEVISION, RADIO, NEWSPAPERS, POSTERS AND PAMPHLETS.
HE NOTED THAT FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES WERE PROVIDED TO ARRANGING FOR FOCUS ON PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDING THAT OF PROPER SUPERVISION OF THEIR CHILDREN.
HOME SAFETY PROGRAMMES WERE ALSO ORGANISED ΤΟ PUBLIC,
PARENTS, INCLUDING
ON THE DANGERS OF LEAVING UNATTENDED AT HOME, HE ADDED.
EDUCATE
THE CHILDREN
"THESE EFFORTS
BE WILL CONTINUE AND WILL
STRENGTHENED,
HE
SAID.
MR CARTLAND SAID FOR FAMILIES WHO FACED DIFFICULTIES IN CARING, SUPPORT FACILITIES AT ALL TIMES, FOR THEIR CHILDREN A WIDE RANGE OF WERE PROVIDED AND WOULD CONTINUE TO BE EXPANDED.
"FAMILY
THOSE
AND MAY MAKE USE OF DAY NURSERIES AND CRECHES, WITH SPECIAL NEEDS MAY RECEIVE HELP UNDER THE FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME.
CARE FOR
FROM
"A NUMBER OF NURSERIES, UNDER THE EXPERIMENTAL OCCASIONAL
SCHEME, CHILD
OFFER FLEXIBLE FULL DAY OR
DAY CARE
HALF CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS HAVE AN URGENT OR SUDDEN NEED TO BE AWAY HOME, HE SAID.
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/ADDITIONALLY, HOME