XN000022-1977-03-22 — Page 4

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TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1977

OVER 11,000 SUBVENTED PLACES IN CHILD CARE CENTRES

BY END OF 1977-78 ******

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SUBVENTED PLACES IN CHILD CARE CENTRES IS EXPECTED TO EXCEED THE 11,000 MARK BY THE END OF THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR..

THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY MRS. IRENE SIH, CHILD CARE CENTRES INSPECTOR OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF KOWLOON EAST ROTARY CLUB TODAY.

+FOR THE YEAR 1977-78, IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT NINE NEW SUBVENTED CHILD CARE CENTRES WILL BE OPENED, AND 11 EXISTING ONES WILL EXPAND THEIR CAPACITY,+ SHE SAID,

MRS. SIH SAID THERE HAD BEEN COMMENTS THAT THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS WERE TOO STRICT TO COMPLY WITH AND THAT MANY OF THE CENTRES MIGHT HAVE TO CLOSE DOWN, LEADING TO A SHORTAGE OF PLACES.

+THE GOVERNMENT IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS POSSIBLE PHENOMENA AND HAS ALREADY TRIED TO INCREASE THE NURSERY PLACES BY SUBVENTING THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN OPENING NEW CHILD CARE CENTRES, SHE EXPLAINED.

THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE WAS IMPLEMENTED ON JUNE 1 LAST YEAR FOR ADOPTION BY PHASES AND WILL BE FULLY EFFECTIVE ON JUNE 1, 1979. REGULATIONS WERE DRAWN UP JOINTLY BY THE FIRE SERVICES, HOUSING, MEDICAL AND HEALTH, PUBLIC WORKS AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS AND WERE AIMED AT SETTING UP A GOOD STANDARD OF SERVICE FOR THE PROMOTION OF ALL-ROUND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILDREN UNDER CARE.

MRS. SIH SAID IN THE INITIAL PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ORDINANCE, THERE HAD BEEN CRITICISM THAT THE REGISTRATION PROCEDURE INVOLVED TOO MANY DEPARTMENTS AND WAS TOO COMPLICATED.

+HOWEVER, SHE SAID, IF WE CONCERN OURSELVES WITH THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN, WE SHALL SURELY AGREE THAT THE CERTIFICATION FROM FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS OR HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS ESSENTIAL.+

—

-- 91 SUBVENTED

SHE DISCLOSED THAT 160 CHILD CARE CENTRES - CENTRES AND 69 PRIVATE CENTRES HAD APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION AND INSPECTORS WERE BUSY PROCESSING THEM.

SHE CALLED ON THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN OPERATING ANY CHILD CARE CENTRE TO CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT'S CHILD CARE CENTRES ADVISORY INSPECTORATE AT 21, HOSPITAL ROAD, SAI YING PUN.

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