XN000022-1973-11-28 — Page 3

4

Wednesday, November 28, 1973

Turning to the provision of day care nurseries for children,

Mr. Li said this field was a good example in which both government and

the voluntary sector work together.

At present, there are 66 non-profit-making day nurseries providing

about 7,100 places. Of these, 47 with a total capacity of 5,700 places

are subvented,

To meet the increasing demand for places, Mr. Li said, the Five

Year Plan proposes that 1,000 additional day care places each year should

be provided.

"It is important to ensure that there are enough places and that

acceptable standards are maintained," he said.

Mr. Li said the increase approved for this current year and the

one for 1974/75 include an element for the improvement of standards which

vary considerably from one nursery to another.

"In this context, we are well on with the drafting of legislation

to require all day care and residential centres for children under the

age of six to register with the Social Welfare Department and to require the

centres to comply with certain minimum standards relating to accommodation

health, and safety measures, staffing, programmes of activity and other

measures designed to ensure adequate standards of supervision."

Turning to the uncertainty among some agencies about the part

they are to play and the amount of government assistance, available to

them, Hr. Li said the role of the voluntary sector has been clearly

established in the White Paper and the Five Year Plan.

/He said

E