XN000022-1977-05-27 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1977

GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO SUBSIDISE 1,000 OR MORE

ADDITIONAL CHILD CARE PLACES EACH YEAR

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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, TODAY (FRIDAY) AFFIRMED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUBSIDY FOR 1,000 OR MORE ADDITIONAL CHILD CARE PLACES EACH YEAR AS LONG AS THERE IS A DEMAND FOR SUCH A SERVICE.

SPEAKING AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF

HONG KONG SOUTH, HE NOTED THAT SINCE 1966, THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN SUBSIDISING NURSERIES FOR CHILDREN OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES WHERE THERE WAS INADEQUATE CARE AT HOME BECAUSE MOTHERS HAVE TO WORK OR BECAUSE OF OTHER SOCIAL REASONS.

+A TOTAL OF 11,000 PLACES IN CHILD CARE CENTRES ARE RECEIVING SUBSIDY AND IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION AMOUNTS TO $16 MILLION. IN ADDITION, THE LOTTERIES FUND MAKES SUBSTANTIAL GRANTS TO SUCH SUBVENTED CENTRES,+ HE SAID.

AT PRESENT, THE DIRECTOR CONTINUED, THE BASIC COST OF MAINTAINING A CHILD IN A NURSERY RUN BY A VOLUNTARY AGENCY IS ESTIMATED AT $200 A MONTH. WITH THE PARENT'S MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION OF $60 AND THE AGENCY'S $10, THE GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION AMOUNTS TO $130 PER CHILD PER MONTH. FOR THOSE CENTRES OPERATING IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, RENT AND RATES ARE ALSO PAID FOR.

+IN MOST PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND IN ALL COMMUNITY CENTRES AND ESTATE WELFARE BUILDINGS THERE ARE NURSERIES RUN BY VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS. ABOUT 1,100 NEW PLACES WILL BE SET UP THIS YEAR AT THE KWAI SHING, 01 MAN, TAI HING AND CHEUNG CHING ESTATES.

+MEANWHILE, PREMISES HAVE ALSO BEEN RESERVED IN THE ESTATES SOON TO BE COMPLETED, SUCH AS LAI YIU, PAK TIN, LAI KING AND WO CHE,+ MR. LEE ADDED.

TURNING TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE DIRECTOR SAID: + IF WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN IN CARE, SURELY THE SUB-STANDARD CENTRES WHICH CANNOT COMPLY WITH THE BASIC HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENT MUST CEASE TO EXIST.

+HOWEVER, FOR THOSE WHICH CAN REACH THE ACCEPTABLE STANDARD AND OFFER A REASONABLE SERVICE, PARENTS WILL BE WILLING TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN EVEN AT A HIGHER FEE, IN THE SAME WAY AS THEY USE THE PRIVATE KINDERGARTENS.+

MR. LEE SAW NO REASON WHY PRIVATE NURSERIES CANNOT STAY IN BUSINESS AND NEW CENTRES COME INTO BEING LIKE PRIVATE KINDERGARTENS WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO SIMILAR REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION, THE MOST IMPORTANT AND BASIC ONES BEING THAT THESE PLACES MUST BE SAFE STRUCTURALLY AND IN RELATION TO FIRE PRECAUTIONS.

/IN THE