XN000022-1980-11-24 — Page 11

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1980

10

SWD DIRECTOR VISITS WELFARE SERVICES IN KWUN TONG

*****

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE, TODAY VISITED A CENTRE FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED AND A NURSERY OPERATED EY THE PO LEUNG KUK IN KWUN TONG.

THE VISIT WAS THE FIRST IN A SERIES IN WHICH THE DIRECTOR WOULD SEE FOR HIMSELF THE DEVELOPMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES RUN BY GOVERNMENT-SUBVENTED VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

MR ALLEYNE FIRST CALLED ON THE KO CHIU ROAD CENTRE WHERE HE INSPECTED THE HOSTEL AND SHELTERED WORKSHOP FACILITIES FOR MENTALLY RETARDED YOUNG ADULTS AGED OVER 16.

ACCOMPANIED BY OFFICIALS OF THE KUK, HE TOURED THE CENTRE WHICH OCCUPIES A FLOOR SPACE OF 1 253 SQUARE METRES IN KO CHIU ROAD CENTRE.

HE SAW THE DISABLED PEOPLE DOING SIMPLE JOBS, MOSTLY ASSEMBLING PLASTIC TOYS, UNDER SUPERVISION AND GUIDANCE.

LIKE OTHER SHELTERED WORKSHOPS, THE CENTRE PROVIDES REMUNERATIVE JOBS IN A SHELTERED ENVIRONMENT FOR DISABLED PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT READY FOR OPEN EMPLOYMENT AND ENABLES THEM TO CARRY ON A USEFUL WORKING LIFE.

MR ALLEYNE LATER VISITED THE NEARBY YAU TONG NURSERY WHICH PROVIDES DAY CARE FOR CHILDREN AGED TWO TO SIX. THE NURSERY HAS A CAPACITY OF 100.

LOCAL FIRE ENGINEERS INVITED TO VISIT GUANGDONG *****

THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE INSTITUTION OF FIRE ENGINEERS (IFE) HAS BEEN INVITED TO VISIT GUANGDONG EARLY NEXT YEAR.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED AT THE 17TH ANNUAL DINNER OF THE BRANCH BY

ITS PRESIDENT MR J.H. MARCH, LAST FRIDAY NIGHT.

MR MARCH, WHO IS A DEPUTY CHIEF FIRE OFFICER IN THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, SAID THE INVITATION CAME FROM THE GUANGDONG PROVINCIAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

+AMONG OTHER THINGS, THEY ARE INTERESTED IN FIRE PROTECTION IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS AND FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS ADOPTED IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.

+WE UNDERSTAND THAT REPRESENTATIVES FROM SOME OTHER PROVINCES IN CHINA WILL MEET AND EXCHANGE VIEWS WITH THE DELEGATION.+

MR MARCH SAID THERE WERE ALSO PLANS TO SEND AN ADVANCE PARTY OF THREE BRANCH MEMBERS -- TWO FROM THE FIRE SERVICES -- TO CHINA TO DISCUSS THE FORMAT AND FORMALITIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFICIAL VISIT.

/IN HIS