XN000022-1976-03-25 — Page 15

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THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1976

+QUANTITY IS IMPORTANT WHEN THE NEED FOR SERVICE IS VERY GREAT, BUT QUALITY SHOULD BE IMPROVED GRADUALLY TO MAKE THE SERVICE MORE EFFECTIVE,+ SHE SAID.

WITH EFFECTIVE EVALUATION AND PLANNING PROGRAMMES, SHE ADDED, THE SERVICES CONSIDERED AND PROVED OUT-DATED OR UNDESIRABLE SHOULD BE ABOLISHED.

EQUALLY + IT IS IMPORTANT TO PLAN AND TEST NEW APPROACHES TO MEET THE IDENTIFIED NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY MORE EFFICIENTLY.+

AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE DIRECTION AND EMPHASIS OF THE SERVICES MAY CHANGE, SHE SAID: +INCREASING ATTENTION IS NOW BEING GIVEN TO THOSE WHO NEED YOUTH SERVICES BUT DO NOT BENEFIT FROM THOSE ALREADY OFFERED. INCREASING EMPHASIS IS BEING PUT ON THE EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS THAT PLAGUE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE. NOW EMPHASIS IS BEGINNING TO BE PLACED ON THE PREVENTIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL CONCEPT OF YOUTH SERVICE.+

SHE STRESSED THAT WITH PROPER REVIEWS AND JOINT PLANNING, +WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE GET OUR PRIORITIES RIGHT AND OBTAIN AN EFFICIENT END-RESULT.+

+ IT IS WASTEFUL TO ALLOW INDIVIDUAL SERVICES TO JUST "GROW LIKE TOPSY' AND AN OVERALL PICTURE MUST BE OBTAINED,+ SHE SAID.

MISS KO WELCOMED THE INCREASED PROVISION FOR EDUCATION FOR THE COMING YEAR.

THIS WOULD ENABLE THE AIM OF THE WHITE PAPER TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACES TO ALLOW ALL CHILDREN TO ATTEND FORM I (AND SUBSEQUENTLY FORMS AND 111) TO BE ACHIEVED BY 1978 - ONE YEAR AHEAD OF THE ORIGINAL TARGET DATE.

MISS KO ALSO WELCOMED THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THAT THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE WOULD COME INTO OPERATION ON JUNE 1 THIS YEAR.

SHE WAS CONFIDENT THAT, WITH ADEQUATE PROVISION FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION, THE STANDARDS IN CHILD CARE CENTRE AND NURSERIES WOULD IMPROVE WITHIN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

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