XN000022-1978-03-08 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1978

5

MORE NURSERIES FOR MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES

******

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR, THOMAS LEE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) CALLED FOR THE SETTING UP OF MORE NON-PROF IT-MAKING AND SELF-SUPPORTING CHILD CARE CENTRES BY THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR TO HELP MEET THE NEEDS OF MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CHIU YANG NURSERY, THE SECOND OF ITS KIND IN HONG KONG, MR. LEE UNDERLINED THE DEMAND OF THIS PARTICULAR INCOME GROUP FOR GOOD AND REASONABLY- PRICED CHILD CARE SERVICE.

+FAMILIES WITHIN THE MIDDLE-INCOME BRACKET CANNOT AFFORD THE HIGH FEES CHARGED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR, NOR ARE THEY ELIGIBLE FOR SUBVENTED CHILD CARE PLACES,+ HE POINTED OUT.

HE SAID THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF NON-PROFIT-MAKING AND SELF-SUPPORTING NURSERIES BY VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS, WITH GRANTS FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND TO COVER THE INITIAL CAPITAL OUTLAY, WILL BE OF GREAT BENEFIT TO WORKING MOTHERS.

+ IN RECENT YEARS, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN HAVE INCREASED CONSIDERABLY AND AS A RESULT, MANY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN LEFT UNCARED FOR AT THEIR HOMES WHILE THEIR PARENTS GO OUT TO WORK, HE SAID.

WITH THE OPENING OF THE CHIU YANG NURSERY, 60 MORE CHILDREN UNDER SIX YEARS OF AGE WILL NOW BE ABLE TO ENJOY NURSERY CARE SERVICE OF A HIGH STANDARD WHILE THEIR PARENTS ARE AT WORK.

MR. LEE THANKED THE CHIU YANG ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG WHICH RUNS THE NURSERY, FOR THEIR CONTINUING EFFORTS IN PROMOTING WELFARE SERVICES IN HONG KONG.

16