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SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 1992
THE REMAINING 1,485 ENQUIRIES, WHICH REQUIRED IN-DEPTH ANSWERS OR FOLLOW-UP ACTION, WERE REFERRED TO RELEVANT DIVISIONS OR TO OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT MOST OF THE ENQUIRIES RELATED TO PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, WHILE OTHERS WERE ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS, THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY} AND EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN REGULATIONS AND OTHER LABOUR LAWS.
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HOWEVER, ENQUIRIES RELATING TO THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE DIVISION, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH DIVISION AND THE PRESSURE EQUIPMENT DIVISION WERE STILL DEALT WITH SEPARATELY BECAUSE OF THEIR SPECIAL NATURE.
HE SAID THE GETS HOTLINE 717 1771 FROM 9 AM TO 5.30 PM INCLUDING LUNCH TIME, FROM 9 AM TO NOON ON SATURDAYS.
HAS 13 LINES OPERATING FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY,
AND
NOTING THAT ENQUIRERS MAY HAVE DIFFICULTIES IN GETTING THROUGH THE BUSY HOTLINE, MR CHAN ASKED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO CALL BETWEEN 11.30 AM AND 2 PM OR AFTER 4 PM FOR EASIER ACCESS.
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PLEA ON NEIGHBOURHOOD HELP
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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR M D CARTLAND, TODAY (SUNDAY) APPEALED TO THE COMMUNITY TO ESTABLISH MUTUAL HELP TO PREVENT YOUNG CHILDREN FROM BEING LEFT UNATTENDED AT HOME.
MR CARTLAND MADE THE CALL WHEN ADDRESSING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE PROJECT, "THE ELDERLY, THEY STILL CARE", JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DRAGON JAYCEES, THE SALVATION ARMY AND THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF SECRETARIES.
"PARENTS IN THE SAME NEIGHBOURHOOD SHOULD HELP EACH OTHER ΤΟ PROVIDE TEMPORARY CARE FOR CHILDREN WHEN THE NEED ARISES, HE SAID.
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HE SAID THERE WERE INCREASING NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT FACED ECONOMIC PRESSURES REQUIRING BOTH PARENTS TO GO TO WORK.
"SOME PARENTS ARE TEMPTED TO TAKE RISKS BY LEAVING THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME UNATTENDED," HE SAID.
NOTING THAT ACCIDENTS AND TRAGEDIES HAD OCCURRED FROM TIME ΤΟ TIME, HE SAID FAMILIES AT RISK IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION NEEDED HELP AND GUIDANCE.
"ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS OF PROVIDING ASSISTANCE
IS AT THE NEIGHBOURHOOD LEVEL WHERE THE ELDERLY AND THE RETIRED ARE WELL PLACED TO EMPHASISE THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER CHILD CARE, MR CARTLAND ADDED.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THEY COULD ALSO HELP PUBLICISE THE AVAILABILITY OF CHILDMINDING FACILITIES AND PERHAPS EVEN ΤΟ PROVIDE CHILDMINDING SERVICES THEMSELVES BY OFFERING HELP TO THEIR NEIGHBOURS.
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