XN000022-1979-04-25 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1979

HOWEVER, CERTAIN CHILDREN OF ELIGIELE AGE WILL BE EXEMPTED FROM

ATTENDING SCHOOL.

THESE INCLUDE CHILDREN WHO COMPLETE FORM II BEFORE REACHING THE AGE OF 15, REGISTERED APPRENTICES UNDER THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE, CHILDREN IN INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS RESIDENTIAL CARE CENTRES CR CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND CHILDREN IN LONG-TERM CARE IN HOSPITALS.

+ IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO EXERCISE DISCRETION IN THE CASE OF MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN,+ MR. TOPLEY SAID, ADDING THAT ESTIMATES OF NEED AND SCALE OF PROVISION OF SCHOOL PLACES FOR THESE CHILDREN WERE UNDER CONSTANT SCRUTINY BY THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE.

+THE MAJORITY OF THESE CHILDREN CAN BE PROVIDED FOR IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS, IN SPECIAL CLASSES IN ORDINARY SCHOOLS, OR IN OTHER INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS CHILDREN'S TRAINING CENTRES, HE SAID.

REGARDING THE CHILDREN OF BOAT PEOPLE AND CHILDREN LIVING IN REMOTE AREAS OR ITINERANT HOMES, THE DIRECTOR SAID: +EACH PROBLEM CALLS FOR, AND IS RECEIVING, A CONCERTED APPROACH BY VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OF GOVERNMENT.+

ANOTHER PROBLEM IN ENFORCING SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL IS THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THE 12-14 YEAR OLDS.

A SEPARATE BILL PROPOS ING TO EXTEND BY STAGES THE PROHIBITION ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN TO 14-YEAR-OLDS AND TO NON-INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAK INGS WILL BE SUBMITTED LATER TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION, MR. TOPLEY SAID.

RESIDENCE CRITERION FOR PUBLIC HOUSING SUGGESTED

*****

THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN SUGGESTED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY REVISE ITS POLICY SO THAT FAMILIES IN NORMAL CLEARANCES WILL ONLY BE ALLOCATED PUBLIC HOUSING IF THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD HAS LIVED IN HONG KONG FOR FIVE OR MORE YEARS.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN WAS SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1979.

+THE MOUNTAINOUS INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS WILL MAKE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF PROVIDING DECENT HOMES FOR ALL HONG KONG FAMILIES BY 1985, + HE EXPLAINED.

HE SAID RISING RENTS HAVE BEEN CONTRIBUTING TO DOMESTIC INFLATION AND SINCE THE RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION IS COMING UP FOR REVIEW, +IT IS TIME WE TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE OVERALL HOUSING SITUATION,+

+CERTAINLY