XN000022-1982-01-27 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1982

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+NO SMOKING+ SIGNS WILL BE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED IN ALL CLINICS AND IN DESIGNATED NON-SMOKING AREAS OF HOSPITALS TO REMIND VISITORS, PATIENTS AND STAFF OF THE RESTRICTION.

THE CLINICS INCLUDE ALL GOVERNMENT MEDICAL CLINICS, DENTAL CLINICS, MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES, X-RAY CENTRES, AND REHABILITATION CENTRES.

DESIGNATED NON-SMOKING AREAS IN HOSPITALS INCLUDE WARDS, CONSULTATION AND TREATMENT ROOMS, OPERATING THEATRES, DISPENSARIES, LABORATORIES, X-RAY DEPARTMENTS, KITCHENS AND PANTRIES, LIFTS, CENTRAL STERILE SUPPLIES DEPARTMENTS, LIBRARIES AND CONFERENCE ROOMS.

IN THESE AREAS, PATIENTS, VISITORS AND STAFF ALIKE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO SMOKE.

LAST JUNE, THE DEPARTMENT TRIED OUT A SIX-MONTH SCHEME TO BAN SMOKING IN MOST PLACES IN THE THREE MAJOR GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND THE RESPONSE BOTH FROM THE STAFF AND THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN MOST ENCOURAGING, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

CHILD-CARE WORK

MORE THAN JUST A JOB

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FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO VIEW WITH INDIFFERENCE THE PROSPECT OF SHUFFLING PAPERS IN AN OFFICE OR WORKING ON THE FACTORY FLOOR, CHILD-CARE SERVICE COULD PROVE TO BE A MOST MEANINGFUL CAREER ALTERNATIVE.

CHILD-CARE WORK IS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING JOBS IN WHICH ONE CAN TRULY APPLY ONE'S PRACTICAL TRAINING, TEXTBOOK KNOWLEDGE AND NOBLE IDEALS TO WORK.

THIS CONSIDERATION, AND THE GOVERNMENT'S AIM TO TRAIN MORE CHILD-CARE WORKERS (WHO LITERALLY MUST ASSUME A MULTITUDE OF ROLES AS MOTHER, TEACHER AND NANNY TO CHILDREN UNDER THEIR SUPERVISION) SHOULD MAKE THE JOB ONE OF THE MORE CHALLENGING, MEANINGFUL AND REWARDING OF PROFESSIONS.

CHILD-CARE TRAINING IN HONG KONG REACHED A MILESTONE IN 1981 WITH THE PUBLICATION IN JULY OF THE WHITE PAPER ON PRIMARY EDUCATION AND PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES. THE GRADUATION OF THE FIRST BATCH OF CHILD-CARE STUDENTS FROM THE LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE THIS YEAR WILL SEE YET ANOTHER STEP FORWARD.

THE CERTIFICATE COURSE IN CHILD CARE OFFERED BY THE LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE'S DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL STUDIES AND ADMINISTERED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE STUDENTS WHO WISH TO BECOME CHILD-CARE WORKERS, HAVE A FORM THREE EDUCATION AND WHO ARE NOT YOUNGER THAN 16 YEARS OF AGE.