XN000022-1979-01-10 — Page 19

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1979

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WHOLESOME READING MATERIAL FOR CHILDREN

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THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SPECIAL FUND AT PRESENT TO ENCOURAGE AND SUBSIDISE ORGANISATIONS WHICH PUBLISH READING MATERIAL FOR CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN FOUR AND 12 YEARS, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. F.K. LI, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR. LI WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. ANDREW SO.

+ALTHOUGH A FAIR AMOUNT OF WHOLESOME READING MATERIAL FOR CHILDREN IN THE FOUR TO 12 YEAR AGE GROUP ALREADY EXISTS, AGREE WITH MR. SO THAT MORE SUCH MATERIAL WOULD ALWAYS BE WELCOME,+ MR. LI SAID.

ABOUT 10 VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS WERE ALREADY RECEIVING SUBVENTIONS FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO BUY BOOKS FOR THEIR CHILDREN LIBRARIES AND THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE WOULD BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS FROM THESE OR OTHER VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS TO ASSIST THEM IN A WORTHWHILE SCHEME LEADING TO THE PUBLICATION OF MORE WHOLESOME READING MATERIAL FOR CHILDREN.

IN ADDITION, FUNDS WOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FROM ONE OR TWO TRUST FUNDS ADMINISTERED BY GOVERNMENT, HE NOTED.

MR. LI SAID: + ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE URBAN COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING SPECIAL PROJECTS AIMED TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL AUTHORS AND TEACHERS TO WRITE CHILDREN'S BOOKS. FOR ALL THESE REASONS, THERE IS NO NEED TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL FUND AT THE PRESENT TIME FOR THE SAME PURPOSE.+

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