XN000022-1979-12-02 — Page 2

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1979

GROWTH IN PROVISION OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES PHENOMENAL

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THE GROWTH IN THE PROVISION OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES BY GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN +PHENOMENAL, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. E.P. HO, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) AT THE OPENING OF A CHILDREN'S CULTURAL DAY ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE TO MARK THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD.

TWENTY-FOUR WELFARE AGENCIES TOOK PART IN THE CHILDREN'S CULTURAL DAY WHICH CONSISTED OF ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMES AND COMPETITIONS.

SPEAKING AT THE BAPTIST COLLEGE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL MR. HO TOLD THE ORGANISERS:

+YOU HAVE NOT ONLY SUCCEEDED IN AROUSING THE AWARENESS OF PARENTS ON THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF CHILD RAISING, DRAWING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE BUT ALSO IN INCULCATING IN THE PUBLIC A CORRECT APPROACH TO MEETING CHILDREN'S NEEDS.+

MR. HO WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE GROWTH IN SUCH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AS MEDICAL AND HEALTH, LABOUR, SOCIAL WELFARE, EDUCATION, RECREATION AND SPORT GAVE GOVERNMENT GROUNDS FOR PRIDE IN ITS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

+SINCE SEPTEMBER SCHOOLING HAS BEEN MADE COMPULSORY UP TILL A CHILD'S 14TH BIRTHDAY, AND NEXT SEPTEMBER THE AGE WILL BE RAISED TO 15 ON COMPLETION OF FORM 111 SO THAT OUR CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY AT LEAST NINE YEARS OF UNIVERSAL AND FREE EDUCATION, HE SAID IN LISTING SOME MILESTONES IN GOVERNMENT'S PROVISION OF SERVICES TO CHILDREN THIS YEAR.

+A STEADY INCREASE IN SUBSIDISED SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION HAS BEEN PLANNED UP TO 1986, + HE SAID.

MR. HO SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S FREE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES HAVE EXPANDED RAPIDLY AND HAVE CONTRIBUTED IMMENSELY TO REDUCING OUR INFANT MORTALITY RATE TO 11.8 PER 1 000 LIVE BIRTHS IN 1978 -- THIS RATE COMPARED VERY FAVOURABLY WITH THAT IN MANY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES,

+THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW SUBVENTING OVER 70 PER CENT OF CHILD CARE CENTRE PLACES IN HONG KONG, AND INTENDS TO CONTINUE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL PLACES PER YEAR,+ HE SAID.

AN EXAMINATION OF THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN OF PRIMARY AND PRE-PRIMARY AGE HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED, AND A GREEN PAPER OUTLINING PROPOSALS FOR DEALING WITH THEM WILL BE PUBLISHED SHORTLY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND DEBATE BEFORE FINAL DECISIONS ARE TAKEN, MR. HO SAID.

+THERE HAS ALSO BEEN AN EXPANSION OF PERSONAL SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED OF MORE INTENSIVE PERSONAL GUIDANCE AND HELP, THROUGH THE EXTENSION OF SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK, OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK AND FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION, HE ADDED.

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