XN000022-1981-10-29 — Page 4

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1981

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+THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO BE PREPARED TO SUBSIDISE PRIVATELY LEASED ACCOMMODATION, ALLOCATE MORE ACCOMMODATION IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES FOR CHILD CARE SERVICES AND INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF INCENTIVE ALLOWANCE FOR THE FOSTER PARENTS.+

TURNING TO RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE SERVICES, DR HO HIGHLIGHTED THE CURRENT SHORT-FALLS IN THE PROVISION OF PLACES FOR NEEDY CHILDREN.

HE SAID THAT ACCORDING TO REPORTS, OF THE 800 CHILDREN APPLYING FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE LAST YEAR, ONLY 240 PLACES WERE FOUND.

+AN INCREDIBLY LONG WAITING TIME, COUPLED WITH A LOW DISCHARGE RATE FROM INSTITUTIONS, SERVES TO DETER NEW APPLICATIONS FOR PLACEMENT OF NEEDY CHILDREN.

+IN ORDER TO PUT THE PROVISION AND THE DEMAND IN A BETTER BALANCE, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD EARNESTLY MAKE PLANS TO EXPAND RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE SERVICES, WHICH ARE MAINLY PROVIDED BY THE SUBVENTED AGENCIES.

+THE GOOD-WILL AND SERVICES OF THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR CAN AND SHOULD BE VIGOROUSLY EXPLOITED BY WAY OF INCREASED SUBVENTIONS,+ DR HO SAID.

HE ALSO CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO URGENTLY DRAW UP A CODE OF PRACTICE LAYING DOWN THE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN'S HOMES SO AS TO SAFEGUARD THE WELFARE OF THE UNDERPRIVILEGED AND MALADJUSTED CHILDREN.

HE SAID A LOW SOCIAL WORKER TO CHILDREN RATIO, AGGRAVATED BY AN INADEQUATE COMPLEMENT OF RELIEF WORKERS, ACCOUNTS IN PART FOR THE GENERALLY LESS THAN SATISFACTORY SERVİCE STANDARDS IN SOME OF THE INSTITUTIONS.

A HIGH STAFF TURNOVER RATE ADVERSELY AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CHILD AND THE SOCIAL WORKER, BUT ALSO THE CHILDREN'S PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT.

+GENERAL UNDER-STAFFING, VARIATIONS IN MANAGERIAL ABILITY, AND THE GENERAL LACK OF APPROPRIATE PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES ALL CONTRIBUTE THE IR SHARES IN REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CHILDREN'S HOME.+

ON THE SUBJECT OF WATER QUALITY, DR HO REMARKED THAT DESPITE OUR WATER POLLUTION CONTROL EFFORTS, THE WATER QUALITY OF THE INLAND RIVERS, WELLS, BEACHES AND HARBOURS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAS REGRETTABLY CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE.

HE DESCRIBED THE WATER COURSES THERE AS +DEPOSITORIES FOR AGRICULTURAL WASTE, TOXIC EFFLUENTS FROM SQUATTER INDUSTRIAL PLANTS, AND LEFTOVERS OF UNCIVIC-MINDED PICNICKERS+.

AND THE