XN000022-1982-07-14 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1982

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BUT THEY WERE SOMEWHAT CONCERNED THAT OWNERS OF SHIPS, WHICH HAD BEEN FOUND CARRYING DRUGS IN THE 18 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE BILL, MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT THEIR VESSELS HAD BEEN SO INVOLVED AND MIGHT THEREFORE NOT BE AWARE THAT THEY WERE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO THE PAYMENT OF A SUBSTANTIAL PENALTY.

HOWEVER, MR WONG ADDED, THE GOVERNMENT HAD AGREED THAT UPON THE ENACTMENT OF THE BILL, STEPS WOULD BE TAKEN TO INFORM ALL SUCH OWNERS THAT DRUGS HAD BEEN FOUND ON THEIR SHIPS DURING THë PERIOD IN QUESTION AND THAT THIS CONSTITUTED THE FIRST OFFENCE IN TERMS OF THE NEW MEASURES.

IN REPLY, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON J.R. HEYWOOD, SAID. IT IS CERTAINLY MOST REASONABLE THAT ANY SHIP OWNER WHO IS RENDERED VULNERABLE TO PROCEEDINGS UNDER THIS BILL BY VIRTUE OF A FIRST SEIZURE OF AN EXCESSIVE QUANTITY OF DANGEROUS DRUGS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS FACT.+

THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ISSUE WRITTEN WARNINGS TO SHIP OWNERS OF ALL SUCH SEIZURES WHICH HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS AND WOULD CONTINUE TO ISSUE THEM IN RESPECT OF ALL SUCH SEIZURES IN THE FUTURE.

HE ADDED THAT IT WAS INTENDED NOT TO BRING THE BILL INTO OPERATION UNTIL SIX MONTHS AFTER ITS ENACTMENT.

+THUS, ALL OWNERS OF SHIPS FOUND TO BE CARRYING EXCESSIVE QUANTITIES OF DANGEROUS DRUGS EIGHTEEN MONTHS BEFORE THE OPERATION OF THIS NEW LEGISLATION WILL HAVE RECEIVED WRITTEN WARNING, HE SAID.

BILL REDEFINES AGE STRUCTURE FOR CHILD CARE CENTRES

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THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE CHILD CARE CENTRES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 IS TO REDEFINE THE AGE STRUCTURE OF CHILDREN ATTENDING SUCH CENTRES AND TO CONTROL THE FEES CHARGED, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON ANSON CHAN, EXPLAINED AT TODAY'S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MRS CHAN NOTED THAT THE 1981 WHITE PAPER ON PRIMARY EDUCATION AND PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES RECOMMENDED THAT, IN FUTURE, CHILD CARE CENTRES SHOULD CATER MAINLY FOR CHILDREN FROM TWO TO THREE YEARS OLD WHILE CHILDREN BETWEEN FOUR AND FIVE WOULD BE PROVIDED FOR IN KINDERGARTENS REGISTERED UNDER THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE.

+THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THESE RECOMMENDATIONS IS THAT VERY YOUNG CHILDREN OF TWO OR THREE REQUIRE A MORE CARE-ORIENTED APPROACH OFFERED BY CHILD CARE CENTRES WHEREAS OLDER CHILDREN OF FOUR OR FIVE ARE BETTER ABLE TO PROFIT FROM A MORE STRUCTURED APPROACH TO EDUCATION, MRS CHAN SAID.

THE BILL