XN000022-1974-01-03 — Page 8

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Thursday, January 3, 1974

He said that the ultimate aim under the Second Development

Programme for Special Education was to provide assessment and remedial

services for 175,000 children a year.

Under the programme, provision has been made for 14,400 additional

places for children in need of special education treatment,

"This will bring the total number of such places to 18.400 by

the end of March 1977. It is intended that 4,000 of these places will

be in special schools for the severely handicapped, the blind, the deaf.

the physically handicapped and the slow-learning.

"Another 10,000 places will be in special classes for the less

severely handicapped and 400 places will be in classes operated in

hospitals for physically handicapped children undergoing treatment,

Mr. Canning said.

He stressed that "in order to ensure that proper use is made

of these places and that handicapped children are integrated with ordinary

children whenever possible, it is essential that children with learning

difficulties should be properly assessed."

In developing the Department's Special Education Services,

Mr. Canning said, "we are very glad to have the co-operation of the Medical

and Health Department specialist clinics and of the Social Welfare Department."

The Director mentioned two important gifts from the community – a

donation in 1967 of $40,000 from the Rotary Club Island West to meet the cost

of a sound proof test chamber for audiological testing at the Centre and

today's donation of two sets of group hearing aids from Philips Hong Kong

Limited for use in the Centre.

/In thanking

༄」