XN000022-1978-07-05 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1978

NUMBER OF PLACES IN CHILD CARE CENTRES

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THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. E.P. HO SAID TODAY A TOTAL OF 3,266 NEW PLACES IN CHILD CARE CENTRES OF ACCEPTABLE STANDARD BECAME AVAILABLE IN THE 22 MONTHS PERIOD ENDING MARCH 31, 1978 AFTER THE MORE STRINGENT CHILD CARE CENTRE REGULATIONS CAME INTO EFFECT ON JUNE 1, 1976.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. HO SAID A MINIMUM OF 1,334 ADDITIONAL PLACES ARE EXPECTED TO BE PROVIDED IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR OF 1978/79.

HE ALSO SAID THAT SINCE THE CHILD CARE CENTRE REGULATIONS CAME INTO EFFECT THERE HAS BEEN A LOSS OF 1,493 SUB-STANDARD PLACES.

MTR EXTENSION DECISION MADE AFTER TEMPORARY

HOUSING AREA WAS BUILT

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THE DECISION TO EXTEND THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY TO TSUEN WAN WAS TAKEN IN JULY LAST YEAR - SIX MONTHS AFTER THE HA KWAI CHUNG TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA WAS COMPLETED AND OCCUPIED.

THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON. ALAN SCOTT, SAID THIS TODAY IN REPLY TO THE HON. MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH WHO ASKED WHY THAT TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA WAS BUILT WHEN SOME RESIDENTS HAVE TO MOVE OUT AFTER ONLY THREE MONTHS.+

WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE, MR. SCOTT SAID THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WAS INFORMED THAT THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA WOULD HAVE TO BE CLEARED IN FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR TO MAKE WAY FOR THE MTR KWAI FONG STATION AND A WORKS AREA.

A TOTAL OF 2,700 RESIDENTS WOULD BE MOVED TO PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES. OF THESE ONLY FOUR PEOPLE FROM TWO FAMILIES WOULD, BY THE TIME OF CLEARANCE, HAVE SPENT LESS THAN 11 MONTHS IN TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION, HE SAID.

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