16
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1991
"I AM SURE THAT WE ALL HOPE TO SER
GROWING
AWARENESS OF THE NEEDS OF THESE CHILDREN SO THAT THEY CAN ENJOY THE LOVE, WARMTH AND NURTURE OF FAMILY LIFE.
H
HE SAID.
MR CARTLAND POINTED OUT THAT SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN WITHOUT PARENTS WERE DOUBLY VULNERABLE.
"UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY TO SAFEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF THESE CHILDREN, HE ADDED.
GOVERNMENT POLICY IN THIS AREA WAS TO SEE THAT CHILDREN WOULD BE DULY ASSISTED TO GROW INTO HEALTHY AND PARTICIPATING MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY, HE SAID.
"THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY RESTS WITH THE PARENTS BUT THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS THAT IT TOO HAS A DUTY, TOGETHER WITH THE PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY, TO SAFEGUARD AND PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN, MR CARTLAND ADDED.
MEANWHILE, THE REGIONAL OFFICER (HONG KONG) OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, MRS PATRICIA CHU, ALSO RECOGNISED THE NEED TO PROVIDE QUALITY TEMPORARY CARE TO SUCH CHILDREN 30 THAT THEY COULD GET SUFFICIENT STIMULATION, LOVE AND SECURITY, AS WELL AS MAINTAINING CONTACT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
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"AT THE SAME TIME, EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO SHORTEN THE WAITING TIME BEFORE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN CAN BE PLACED INTO PERMANENT ADOPTIVE HOMES," SHE SAID.
IN
SHE NOTED THAT RECENTLY, THE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL ENGAGING CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS TO VISIT AND PLAY WITH THE CHILDREN IN RESIDENTIAL HOMES, TAKE THEM HOME FOR SHORT LEAVE AND PROVIDE PRE-ADOPTION FOSTER CARE.
"THE INVOLVEMENT OF A CARING COMMUNITY WILL CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTHY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THESE CHILDREN WHO ARE DEPRIVED OF A NORMAL UPBRINGING AND A HAPPY CHILDHOOD, MRS CHU STRESSED.
EXPERTS IN THE ADOPTION FIELD FROM THE UNITED STATES AND AUSTRALIA ALSO SPOKE AT THE SEMINER.
P
IMPROVEMENT WORKS TO STONECUTTERS ISLAND
WORKS TO MODIFY THE ENTRANCE TO THE BASIN ON THE NORTH SHORE OF STONECUTTERS ISLAND IS SCHEDULED TO START THIS MONTH AND BE COMPLETED BY MARCH 1993.
IT WILL BE CARRIED OUT WITHIN AN AREA OF ABOUT 2.47 OF FORESHORE AND SEA-BED SITUATED AT STONECUTTERS ISLAND.
HECTARES
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