T
WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 1991
THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT POLICY IS THAT CHILD CARE SERVICES SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO PRESERVE THE HARMONY AND INTEGRITY OF THE FAMILY SO THAT PARENTS CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN. AS SO ELOQUENTLY EXPRESSED BY MY HONOURABLE FRIEND MRS ELSIE TU, IT IS CLEAR THAT TRADITIONAL FAMILY TIES ARE WEAKENED IN HONG KONG AS A RESULT OF MODERNISATION, AND rak SHARING OF THE BURDEN OF TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN BY GRANDMOTHERS AND AUNT'S IS NOW NO LONGER AVAILABLE. FURTHERMORE, SOCIAL ISOLATION, IGNORANCE ON THE PART OF PARENTS, NUCLEAR FAMILIES UPROOTED FROM THEIR FAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT, ALL COULD RESULT IN INADEQUATE NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT AND OTHER SOCIAL REINFORCEMENTS. THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THIS AND INNOVATIVE SERVICES ARE DEVELOPED AND CONSTANTLY MONITORED TO CATER TO THE CHANGING NEEDS OF SOCIETY. SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE ΤΟ PARENTS WHO CANNOT TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE DAY INCLUDE DAY CRECHES, DAY NURSERIES, HOME HELP, FAMILY AIDE SERVICES, CHILD CARE SERVICE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE SERVICE.
OCCASIONAL
MEMBERS WILL BE INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE AT PRESENT 1,000 SUBVENTED AND NON-PROFIT MAKING DAY CRECHE PLACES AND 20,650 AIDED AND NON-PROFIT MAKING NURSERY PLACES. WE PLAN TO EXPAND THE DAY CRECHE SERVICE, PARTICULARLY IN THE NEW TOWNS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE PLAN TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 1,400 AIDED NURSERY PLACES EVERY YEAR UNTIL THE DEMAND IS MET IN FULL. FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES WITH SOCIAL NEEDS WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE FEE, A FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME IS IN PLACE TO HELP THEM. SEPARATELY, THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS NOW PROVIDING SOME 10,600 NURSERY PLACES, NOT TO MENTION OTHER KINDERGARTEN PLACES WHICH DON'T COME UNDER MY PURVIEW.
ADDITIONALLY, 150 OCCASIONAL CHILD CARE PLACES ARE PROVIDED IN 50 EXISTING DAY NURSERIES FOR CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS HAVE TO STAY AWAY FROM HOME OCCASIONALLY DUE TO URGENT COMMITMENTS. PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM FAMILIES WITH SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL NEEDS ARE PROVIDED WITH AFTER SCHOOL CARE PROGRAMMES WHICH INCLUDE HOMEWORK GUIDANCE, MEALS, GROUP ACTIVITIES, PLAY ACTIVITIES AND COUNSELLING SERVICES. NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS ARE NOW RUNNING ABOUT 30 SUCH PROGRAMMES, AND FIVE OF THEM ARE RECEIVING GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS. THESE PROGRAMMES HELP TO MINIMISE THE RISK YOUNG CHILDREN BEING LEFT UNATTENDED AT HOME.
ΤΟ
BY
BE
SIR, WHILE WE BELIEVE THAT CHILDREN ARE BEST TAKEN CARE OF THEIR PARENTS, THERE MIGHT BE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE A CHILD HAS TO TEMPORARILY PUT INTO A RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME. AT PRESENT, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 2,386 PLACES OF RESIDENTIAL CARE, INCLUDING FOSTER CARE, SMALL GROUP HOMES, CHILDREN'S HOMES, BOYS' HOMES, GIRLS' HOMES AND HOSTELS. ADDITIONAL FOSTER CARE AND SMALL GROUP HOME PLACES ARE BEING PLANNED.
FOR DISABLED CHILDREN, AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED NOBODY MENTIONED DISABLED CHILDREN, SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRES ARE PROVIDED. THE PROGRAMMES OFFERED THERE AIM TO DEVELOP THE CHILDREN'S PERCEPTUAL MOTOR COMMUNICATION AND PERSONAL SKILLS AND GENERAL WELL-BEING. AGAIN,
THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THESE SERVICES IS TO ENSURE SUPPORT FOR PARENTS WHO NEED THEM.
ADEQUATE
/AS REGARDS