XN000022-1980-07-25 — Page 16

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FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1980

WORKING GROUP STUDIES DEMAND FOR CHILDREN'S INSTITUTIONAL SERVICE

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THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THE GOVERNMENT HAD SET UP A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE DEMAND FOR INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AGED OVER SIX YEARS.

SHE WAS SPEAKING AT THE 24TH SCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE HONG KONG JUVENILE CARE CENTRE — AN INSTITUTION PROVIDING EDUCATION AND SOCIAL REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH PROBLEMS.

SHE SAID THE WORKING GROUP WOULD ALSO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE STANDARD STAFFING STRUCTURE FOR CHILDREN'S INSTITUTIONS.

ITS FINDINGS, SHE SAID, WILL FORM THE BASIS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL CARE FOR CHILDREN.

THE WORKING GROUP HAS BEEN SET UP BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE

DEPARTMENT WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR, SHE SAID.

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MRS CHAN EMPHASISED THAT THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES DEPENDED LARGELY ON THE SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION OF VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES.

IN THIS AREA THE HONG KONG JUVENILE CARE CENTRE IS PLAYING A SIGNIFICANT ROLE AND MAKING DEFINITE CONTRIBUTIONS.

SHE NOTED THAT THE CENTRE HAD MADE MARKED IMPROVEMENTS BOTH IN ITS ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF MANAGEMENT AND WAS PLANNING A NEW CENTRE IN NAM LONG SHAN.

WITH A GOVERNMENT LAND GRANT, CONSTRUCTION WORK IS WELL UNDERWAY AND THE NEW CENTRE IS EXPECTED TO BE READY IN EARLY 1982 PROVIDING INSTITUTIONAL SERVICE FOR 150 CHILDREN.

TO THE GRADUATING STUDENTS, MRS CHAN SAID THEY MUST NOT FEEL OBSESSED BY THE IR ADMISSION TO THE CENTRE AND ENCOURAGED THEM TO STICK TO THEIR PRINCIPLE AND ACT TO SHOW THEIR DETERMINATION TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES.

+EVEN IF YOU JUST MAKE YOURSELF AN ORDINARY LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN, YOU WILL STILL BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF THE COMMUNITY, SHE TOLD THE GRADUATES.

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