XN000022-1980-12-30 — Page 6

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THE FOUR-POINT INCREASE IN THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR IN BOTH CONSUMER PRICE INDICES WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIGHER PRICES FOR SOME OUTER-CLOTHING ITEMS, BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE ENDING OF SUMMER CLEARANCE SALES IN SOME SHOPS DURING THE MONTH AS WELL AS BY THE EMERGENCE OF WINTER CLOTHING ITEMS IN THE MARKET WHICH WERE GENERALLY MARKED MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IN THE LAST WINTER.

THE INDEX FOR DURABLE GOODS INCREASED BY ONE POINT IN CPI(A) DUE TO HIGHER PRICES FOR WOODEN FURNITURE, REFRIGERATORS, GLASSWARE AND VACUUM FLASKS.

THE ONE-POINT INCREASE IN THE INDEX FOR MISCELLANEOUS GOODS IN BOTH CP1(A) AND (B) WAS MAINLY CAUSED BY HIGHER PRICES FOR TOILET REQUISITES, SOAP, DETERGENTS, TOYS, TROPICAL FISH AND GENUINE JEWELLERY. THE EFFECT OF THESE INCREASES WERE PARTLY OFFSET BY THE LOWER PRICES FOR CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES.

THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES INCREASED BY SIX POINTS IN CPI(A) AND BY EIGHT POINTS IN CPI(B), REFLECTING THE FULL IMPACT OF THE UPWARD REVISION IN TAXİ FARES SINCE OCTOBER AS WELL AS HIGHER FARES FOR SOME PUBLIC LIGHT BUS ROUTES.

THE INDEX FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY TWO POINTS IN CPI(B) BECAUSE OF HIGHER CHARGES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT AND HAIRDRESSING, AND HIGHER EXAMINATION FEES FOR SITTING THE HK ADVANCED LEVEL EXAMINATION AND THE GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION.

PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

DETAILS OF THE PRICE MOVEMENTS ARE GIVEN IN THE +CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 1980, NOW ON SALE AT $2 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE.

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INTEGRATED CHILD CARE PROGRAMME FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE, TODAY CALLED FOR PARTICIPATION BY MORE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN AN INTEGRATED PROGRAMME WHICH ENABLED MILDLY DISABLED CHILDREN TO MIX WITH NORMAL CHILDREN IN NURSERIES.

SPEAKING AT THE OPEN DAY OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT WOMEN'S WELFARE CLUB'S NURSERY IN NORTH POINT, MR ALLEYNE SAID THERE WAS PLAN TO EXPAND THE PROGRAMME BY 90 PLACES A YEAR.

HE SAID 15 NEW CHILD CARE CENTRES WOULD THEREFORE BE NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SCHEME IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR.

THE AIM IS TO PROVIDE THE EXTRA PLACES IN DISTRICTS WITH HIGH DEMAND AND GEOGRAPHICALLY CLOSE TO THE RESIDENCE OF CHILDREN WHO NEED THIS SERVICE, HE SAID.

MR ALLEYNE SAID THAT SINCE THE SCHEME STARTED IN 1978 WITH 10 CHILD CARE CENTRES OFFERING A TOTAL OF 60 PLACES FOR MILDLY DISABLED CHILDREN, THE RESPONSE OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES HAD BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING.

/BY THE