XN000022-1977-03-09 — Page 7

ON

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1977

OVER $16 MILLION SUBSIDY FOR CHILD CARE CENTRES

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL SPEND IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR OVER $16 MILLION TO SUBSIDIZE NON-PROF IT-MAK ING CHILD CARE CENTRES IN ADDITION TO GRANTS FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. JIMMY SWEETMAN, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE HING WAH DAY NURSERY OPERATED BY THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS.

THE NEW DAY NURSERY, ACCORDING TO MR. SWEETMAN, IS THE 71ST GOVERNMENT SUBVENTED DAY NURSERY AND THE 92ND GOVERNMENT SUBVENTED CHILD CARE CENTRE.

+MORE SIMILAR CENTRES WILL BE OPENED IN THE YEARS AHEAD AS IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO ALLOW 1,000 NEW DAY NURSERY PLACES TO BE OPENED EACH YEAR FOR FAMILIES WHO FOR FINANCIAL OR SOCIAL REASONS NEED TO HAVE THE IR YOUNG CHILDREN LOOKED AFTER.+

MR. SWEETMAN STRESSED THAT CHILD CARE CENTRE WAS NOT A 'PARKING METER' FOR CHILDREN, NEITHER WAS IT A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN WERE STUFFED WITH FACTS AND FIGURES AND PREMATURELY FORCED TO PRACTISE WRITING CHARACTERS.

+ THE MAIN PURPOSE, THEREFORE, IS TO FOSTER THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT NAMELY THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND INTELLECTUAL ASPECTS OF THE VERY YOUNG CHILDREN. LEARNING THROUGH PLAY WITH DUE CONSIDERATION TO INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IS THE ESSENCE.+

MR. SWEETMAN SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE LAST JUNE IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT CERTAIN BASIC STANDARDS PERTINENT TO THE SAFETY, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE UNDER SIX WOULD BE COMPLIED WITH IN CHILD CARE CENTRES.

+FROM NOW ON, ALL CENTRES THAT REGULARLY RECEIVE MORE THAN FIVE CHILDREN OF THE UNDER SIX FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARE MUST COME FORWARD TO REGISTER WITH MY DEPARTMENT,

+THIS SHOULD GIVE PARENTS MORE CONFIDENCE IN SENDING THE IR CHILDREN TO CHILD CARE CENTRES NO MATTER THEY ARE SUBVENTED OR PRIVATE WHETHER IT IS A CRECHE, NURSERY, PLAYGROUP OR PLAYCENTRE.

+AT THE SAME TIME, THE ORDINANCE ALSO HELPS TO PROMOTE THE QUALITY OF SERVICE, HE SAID.

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