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CHILD CARE CENTRES, HE SAID, ARE PROHIBITED FROM EMPLOYING MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STAFF AS TRAINEE CHILD CARE WORKERS.

TRAINEE WORKERS WILL NORMALLY BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE IR TRAINING WITHIN ONE YEAR OF APPOINTMENT, FAILING WHICH THEIR NAMES MAY BE STRUCK OFF THE STAFF REGISTER, HE SAID.

TO ENSURE THAT ANY EMERGENCY SITUATION MAY BE ADEQUATELY HANDLED, A NEW PROVISION REQUIRES AT LEAST ONE QUALIFIED STAFF MEMBER AND ONE OTHER PERSON AGED AT LEAST 18 YEARS TO BE PRESENT IN A RESIDENTIAL CENTRE, HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION OF FORM THREE, COUPLED WITH A MINIMUM AGE OF 18 YEARS AND PROPER CHILD CARE TRAINING, SHOULD ALSO ENSURE AN ADEQUATE STANDARD OF SERVICE.

+SINCE EDUCATION IS NOW FREE AND COMPULSORY UP TO FORM THREE, IT IS HOPED THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WITH FORM THREE QUALIFICATION WILL BE ATTRACTED TO BECOME A GROUP OF BETTER MOTIVATED CHILD CARE WORKERS WHO WOULD BE PREPARED TO MAKE A CAREER OF IT, HE SAID.

HE SAID OTHER PROVISIONS INCLUDE REQUIRING THOSE CHILD CARE WORKERS, WITH FORM TWO QUALIFICATION AND ALREADY EMPLOYED AT THE TIME THE CHILD CARE LEGISLATION WAS FIRST ENACTED, TO OBTAIN THE REQUIRED THREE YEARS' CHILD CARE EXPERIENCE BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 1981.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE CHILD CARE LEGISLATION WOULD BE FURTHER REVIEWED IN TWO YEARS' TIME TO SEE IF ANY FURTHER AMENDMENTS WERE REQUIRED.

$155 MILLION COMPENSATION PAID TO SHA TIN PEOPLE IN TWO YEARS

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COMPENSATION PAID BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN SHA TIN DISTRICT HAS AMOUNTED TO MORE THAN $155 MILLION IN THE PAST TWO YEARS.

DISTRICT OFFICER, SHA TIN, DR PATRICK HASE, REVEALED THIS TODAY (FRIDAY) WHEN OFFICIATING AT THE 22ND INAUGURATION OF SHA TIN RURAL COMMITTEE.

COMPENSATION PAID FOR LAND WAS A VERY HIGH+ $103 MILLION AND OTHER COMPENSATION AMOUNTED TO $52 MILLION, HE SAID.

AFTER MANY YEARS OF DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE HEUNG YEE KUK AND THE GOVERNMENT, AND A STUDY BY A SPECIAL INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE, A REASONABLE COMPENSATION RATE FOR LAND RESUMPTION HAD BEEN WORKED OUT, DR HASE SAID.

RATES WERE REVIEWED TWICE A YEAR.

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