XN000022-1978-02-01 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1978

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE VISITS ST. CHRISTOPHER'S HOME

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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, SPENT THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON VISITING THE ST. CHRISTOPHER'S HOME IN TAI PO, THE NEW TERRITORIES AS PART OF A SERIES OF VISITS TO VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES TO KEEP HIMSELF INFORMED OF THEIR OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT.

HE WAS ACCOMPANIED DURING THE VISIT BY MRS, EVELYN DOE, HEAD OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION,

ON ARRIVAL. THEY WERE MET BY THE RT. REV. GILBERT BAKER, BISHOP OF HONG KONG AND MACAU AND CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE HOME.

THE ST. CHRISTOPHER'S HOME, PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS THE TAI PO RURAL HOME AND ORPHANAGE, WAS FOUNDED IN 1935. THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY, THE HOME HAS GONE THROUGH MANY CHANGES FROM AN ORPHANAGE TO A CHILDREN'S HOME, AND FROM A SINGLE HUT TO AN INSTITUTION WITH A CHILDREN'S SECTION AND A BABIES' SECTION. THE HOME HAS A PRIMARY SCHOOL ATTACHED TO IT PROVIDING PRIMARY EDUCATION FOR THE CHILDREN.

THE MAIN OBJECTIVES. OF THE HOME ARE TO PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL CARE, SCHOOLING AND GUIDANCE TO CHILDREN WHO ARE EITHER WITHOUT PARENTS, OR WITH FAMILY PROBLEMS, OR FOR SOME OTHER SOCIAL REASONS. IT ALSO ASSISTS THE OLDER CHILDREN TO FURTHER THEIR STUDIES OR TO FIND EMPLOYMENT FOR THEM WHEN THEY LEAVE THE HOME.

ST. CHRISTOPHER'S HOME HAS A CAPACITY OF 300 WITH 110 PLACES FOR THOSE AGED UNDER SIX IN THE BABIES' SECTION AND 190 PLACES FOR THOSE AGED SIX AND OVER IN THE CHILDREN'S SECTION.

A PLAYGROUND WAS COMPLETED LAST YEAR PROVIDING FACILITIES FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING OF THE CHILDREN.

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