XN000022-1982-07-14 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1982

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THE BILL PROVIDES POWERS TO ENACT REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE CLASSES OR TYPES OF CHILD CARE CENTRES AND THE AGE LIMITS OF CHILDREN TO BE ADMITTED.

BUT MRS CHAN STRESSED THAT SUCH REGULATIONS WOULD NOT BE ENACTED +UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED THAT ADEQUATE PROVISION IS AVAILABLE IN FULL-DAY KINDERGARTENS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF FOUR- AND-F |VE-YEAR OLD CHILDREN WHO REQUIRE FULL-DAY CARE AND SUPERVISION.+

+ACCORDINGLY, CHILD CARE CENTRES WILL CONTINUE, FOR THE TIME BEING, TO ADMIT CHILDREN UP TO THE AGE OF FIVE YEARS EIGHT MONTHS WHEN THEY WILL ENTER PRIMARY SCHOOL,+ SHE ADDED.

ON CONTROL OF FEES, WHICH THE BILL INVESTS IN THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS CHAN EXPLAINED THAT ITS PURPOSE WAS TO ENSURE REASONABLE CHARGES AS CHILD CARE CENTRES CATERED MOSTLY TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.

THE BILL ALSO STATES THAT CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF SIX WHO ARE MEMBERS OF FAMILIES ORDINARILY RESIDENT IN PREMISES ARE TO BE COUNTED FOR THE PURPOSES OF DETERMINING WHETHER THE PREMISES ARE A CHILD CARE CENTRE AS DEFINED BY THE ORDINANCE.

THE BILL AUTHORISES THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE OR AN INSPECTOR OR MEDICAL OFFICER TO ENTER AND INSPECT ANY CHILD CARE CENTRES OR ANY PREMISES SUSPECTED TO BE A CHILD CARE CENTRE.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

SEPTEMBER OPENING FOR SECOND ABERDEEN TUBE

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THE SECOND TUBE OF THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL IS SCHEDULED TO BE OPENED IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR N.K. CHAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON SELINA CHOW, HE SAID THAT THE TUBE WOULD BE OPENED TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC CONCURRENT WITH THE CLOSURE OF THE FIRST TUBE TO PERMIT FURTHER WORK RELATED TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM TO BE CARRIED OUT IN THE LATTER.

+ONCE THESE FURTHER WORKS ARE COMPLETED IN DECEMBER THIS YEAR AS PRESENTLY SCHEDULED. BOTH TUBES WILL BE OPENED TO TRAFFIC WITH ONE-WAY OPERATION IN EACH TUBE, HE SAID.

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