XN000022-1980-03-13 — Page 6

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1980

5.

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+A BASIC STEP IN THE REHABILITATION PROCESS IS TO IDENTIFY AND ASSESS CHILDREN WITH HANDICAPS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT REMEDIAL ACTION CAN BE TAKEN IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE CHANCES OF RESTORING FULL FUNCTION AND HELP THESE CHILDREN TO DEVELOP TO THE IR FULL POTENTIAL, SHE SAID.

THE FIRST LOCAL CLINIC TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE CHILD ASSESSMENT SERVICE FOR CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 12 YEARS OLD WITH PHYSICAL, MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS WAS ESTABLISHED IN ARRAN STREET IN 1977 BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WITH DONATIONS FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON.

SINCE THE CENTRE CAME INTO OPERATION, ABOUT 1 000 PROBLEMATIC CHILDREN HAD BEEN ASSESSED, SAID DR KO.

THIS CLINIC IS UNIQUE IN THAT SPECIALISTS FROM VARIOUS ASSESSMENT FIELDS, INCLUDING PAEDIATRICIAN TRAINED IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER, PHYSIOTHERAPIST, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, SPEECH THERAPIST AND AUDIOLOGY TECHNICIAN, COME UNDER ONE ROOF.

+ANOTHER IMPORTANT EMPHASIS IS A TEAM APPROACH TO EACH INDIVIDUAL CHILD WHOSE PROBLEMS ARE USUALLY MULTIPLE, SHE SAID.

+SO THE STAFF TOGETHER PROVIDE A DETAILED ALL ROUND ASSESSMENT OF THE NATURE AND DEGREE OF THE HANDICAP AND INNER POTENTIAL OF THE DISABLED CHILD, AND RECOMMEND SUBSEQUENT MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL PLACEMENT, AS WELL AS PROVIDE SUPPORT AND COUNSELLING TO THE PARENTS OF THESE CHILDREN, SHE ADDED.

DR KO SAID STAFF OF THE CENTRE ALSO TOOK PART TO PROVIDE PRACTICAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR LOCAL PAEDIATRICIANS, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS, SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS, MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS AND HEALTH NURSES.

FURTHERMORE, THEY WERE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN MANY OTHER FUNCTIONS SUCH AS SEMINARS AND EXHIBITIONS TO PROMOTE CHILD CARE IN OUR SOCIETY, SHE SAID.

EIGHTEEN SITES AVAILABLE IN NT

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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO MAKE AVAILABLE 18 SITES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES FOR RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT LATER THIS MONTH.

THE SITES, TOTALLING MORE THAN SIX HECTARES IN AREA, ARE IN THE NEW TOWNS OF SHA TIN, TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG.

A NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THE 18 SITES WERE RESTRICTED TO REGISTERED HOLDERS OF LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS.

HE SAID NINE SITES AT KAU TO, SHA TIN, MEASURING 4.6 HECTARES, WERE FOR HIGH QUALITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. THEY HAVE A PLOT RATIO OF ONLY 0.4 AND ARE FOR TWO-STOREY DEVELOPMENT,