XN000022-1979-09-18 — Page 11

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1979

D.S.W. VISITS CHILDREN'S TRAINING CENTRE AND DAY NURSERY ******

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, TODAY (TUESDAY) VISITED HONG KONG'S FIRST TRAINING CENTRE FOR SEVERELY MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN WHICH HE OFFICIALLY OPENED LAST YEAR.

MR. LEE FIRST CALLED ON THE KWAI SHING CHILDREN'S TRAINING CENTRE, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND SET UP BY PO LEUNG KUK FOLLOWING AN APPEAL BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PROVISION OF SUCH SERVICES.

ACCOMPANIED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. CHENG KWAN-KUEN, HE SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR IN THE CENTRE MEETING THE STAFF AND INSPECTING THE SERVICES AND FACILITIES TO KEEP HIMSELF INFORMED OF ITS LATEST DEVELOPMENT.

MR. LEE WAS MET ON ARRIVAL BY THE CHAIRMAN OF PO LEUNG KUK, MADAM SIU HON-SUM, AND STAFF OF THE TRAINING CENTRE.

WITH A CAPACITY OF 80, THE TRAINING CENTRE IN KWAT SHING ESTATE PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL AND DAY CARE SERVICES AS WELL AS SIMPLE TRAINING TO SEVERELY MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN SIX AND 16 YEARS.

THROUGH VARIOUS PROGRAMMES, THE CHILDREN ARE TRAINED IN SELF-CARE SKILLS, THE WAY TO COMMUNICATE AND GET ALONG WITH OTHERS, AND TECHNIQUES WHICH CATER TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.

LATER, MR. LEE WENT ON TO VISIT THE JU CHING CHU CHILD CARE CENTRÉ - A GOVERNMENT-SUBVENTED DAY NURSERY OPERATED BY YAN CHAI HOSPITAL IN SHEK YUM ESTATE.

HE WAS GREETED ON ARRIVAL BY THE CHAIRMAN OF YAN CHAI HOSPITAL, MADAM RITA LIU, AND SUPERVISORY STAFF OF THE NURSERY.

OPENED IN AUGUST LAST YEAR, THE JU CHING CHU CHILD CARE CENTRE CATERS FOR 100 CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN TWO AND SIX YEARS.

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