XN000022-1976-09-10 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1976

IMPLEMENTATION OF CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE PROGRESSING

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STAFF OF VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN BUSY IMPLEMENTING THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE WHICH BECAME EFFECTIVE ON JUNE 1 THIS YEAR.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY MISS NANCY CHOW, PRINCIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ADVISORY INSPECTORATE, IN A TALK GIVEN AT THE 7TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE FAMILY SERVICE AND CHILD CARE DIVISION OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE.

BESIDES THE SETTING UP OF THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ADVISORY INSPECTORATE BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, MISS CHOW SAID, OFFICERS OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH, PUBLIC WORKS, HOUSING AND FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENTS HAD BEEN INSPECTING THE CENTRES TO FIND OUT THEIR HEALTH AND SANITATION CONDITIONS AND TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT ALTERATIONS ARE NECESSARY BEFORE THEY ARE REGISTERED.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO MADE APPROPRIATE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

TO HELP SUBVENTED CHILD CARE CENTRES, SHE SAID.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE LOTTERIES FUND OR FOR SUPPLEMENTARY SUBVENTION COULD BE MADE, SHE SAID, IF THESE CENTRES FOUND THAT THEY WERE IN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES WHILE IMPROVING THE STANDARD OF THEIR SERVICE.

MISS CHOW SAID THAT THE TRAINING SECTION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RUNNING COURSES FOR CHILD CARE WORKERS.

+THE COURSES ARE ORGANISED SO THAT THE WORKERS CAN BE QUALIFIED FOR REGISTRATION ON THE ONE HAND, AND BE MORE READY FOR THEIR WORK ON THE OTHER, + SHE SAID.

THE PURPOSE OF THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE IS TO CONTROL THE CENTRES WITH THE INTENTION OF IMPROVING THEIR SAFETY AND THE STANDARD OF THEIR SERVICES- AND ALSO TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN UNDER THE IR CARE WILL BE PROPERLY LOOKED AFTER BY TRAINED CHILD CARE WORKERS.

+ IN SHORT, IT IS TO PROMOTE THE QUALITY OF THE CHILD CARE SERVICE SO THAT THE CHILDREN IN CARE WILL COME TO ENJOY SOCIAL LIFE AND BE GIVEN A CHANCE FOR BETTER PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, * SHE ADDED.

SPEEDPOST TO AUSTRALIA BACK TO NORMAL

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THE POSTMASTER GENERAL HAS BEEN ADVISED BY THE AUSTRALIAN POST OFFICE THAT NORMAL SPEEDPOST SERVICES TO AUSTRALIA HAVE BEEN RESUMED.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE AUSTRALIAN POST OFFICE HAD SAID THAT DUE TO AN INDUSTRIAL ACTION BY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS IN AUSTRALIA

IT COULD NOT GUARANTEE SCHEDULED DELIVERY OF SPEEDPOST ITEMS.

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