XN000022-1972-06-10 — Page 2

N

Saturday, June 10, 1972

Six institutions have been designated "places of refuge" under the

Protection of Women and Juveniles Ordinance for the care, protection, and

social rehabilitation of children, particularly teenage girls.

But no facility has been provided for the intensive training and care

of delinquent children who are mentally defective and aggressive.

As a result, some of these retarded children who come before the

Courts, and who have an unsuitable home environment, have at present to be

placed in correctional institutions.

Because of their low intelligence, they are not able to fit into the

more normal training programme, and their behaviour poses a serious threat to

discipline.

The Director of Social Welfare considers it more appropriate for

these children to be placed in a special "place of refuge" where they will be

to cared for and trained, and it is this unit that will be set up at the ARC,

provide accommodation for 15.

The capital cost has been estimated at $55,000, with recurrent costs

amounting to about $114,000 a year.

The two projects have been included in Category E of the Public Works

Programme. They will be dealt with separately, and it is expected that the

first tender will be invited at the end of July.

13

E