XN000022-1975-01-22 — Page 9

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1975

CHILD CARE CENTRES BILL

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UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY SPOKE IN FAVOUR OF THE CHILD CARE CENTRES DILL 1974 WHICH IS DESIGNED TO CONTROL AND REGULATE THE OPERATION OF CHILD CARE CENTRES.

SPEAKING ON THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL..THE HON. MISS KO SIU WAH DESCRIBED THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION AS NECESSARY AND TIMELY.

SHE SAID: THE BILL IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN ESTABLISHING A SYSTEM OF REGISTRATION, CONTROL AND INSPECTION OVER THE OPERATION OF CHILD CARE CENTRES.

+IN VIEW OF THE NEED FOR PROPERLY-RUN NURSERIES SOME 1,000 PLACES YEARLY AS STATED IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE FIVE YEAR PLAN PROPER GUIDANCE IN THIS FIELD HAS DECOME MORE IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY REGARDING CHILDREN'S SAFETY AND CARE.+

MISS KO EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE WOULD EXERCİSE HIS AUTHORITY TO WAIVE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS TEMPORARILY AT THE DEGINNING STAGE IN ORDER TO HELP OPERATORS OF CHILD CARE CENTRES TO MEET THE REQUIRED STANDARDS OVER SOME YEARS.

*IT IS OBVIOUS,+ SHE SAID, THAT GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE DIFFICULTIES FACING THOSE WHO WISH TO OPERATE CHILD CARE CENTRES DUT WHO FEAR THEY CANNOT COPE WITH THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OR OTHER PROBLEMS OF SUCH A VENTURE,+

SHE HOPED, HOWEVER, THAT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEW LEGISLATION AND THE PHAŠED IMPLEMENTATION WOULD NOT BE AN UNDEARABLE BURDEN FOR THEM.

MISS KO ALSO CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW AND REVISE, IF NECESSARY FROM TIME TO TIME, THE REGULATIONS WHICH WOULD BE MADE UNDER THE DILL IN ORDER TO COPE WITH THE CHANGING NEEDS.

SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE DILL, THE HON. MRS JOYCE SYMONS SAID: >WITH THE PARTIAL BREAK-UP OF THE TRADITIONAL PATTERN OF CHINESE FAMILY LIFE, THIS DILL IS SORELY NEEDED AND MUST BE NURSED ALONG WITH IMAGINATION AND CARE.❖

THE FLEXIBILITY AND REALISM OF THE BILL IN ALLOWING THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE DISCRETION IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS PROVISIONS, SHE SAID, *MUST NOT DE ALLOWED TO DEGENERATE INTO MERE PROCRASTINATION BY THE OPERATORS OF CHILD CARE CENTRES.

MRS. SYMONS SAID THAT THE RECRUITMENT, TRAINING OF STAFF MUST ALSO DE ACCELERATED TO MAKE THE DILL WORKABLE.

ANOTHER UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON, WILSON WANG, COMMENTING ON THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION SPOKE ABOUT THE REGULATIONS WHICH WOULD ACCOMPANY THE BILL.

/HE SAID: