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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
THE FIRST RELATED TO THE CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF ACCOMMODATION. HE SAID.
DR HO POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE TO PLACE A CHILD IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION IN FOSTER HOMES OR SMALL GROUP HOMES, THERE WERE ONLY 45 AND EIGHT SUCH PLACES RESPECTIVELY, CATERING FOR SIMILAR NEEDS IN A LARGE NUMBER OF CARE AND PROTECTION CASES OTHER THAN THOSE ARISING FROM THE BILL.
+1 WAS INFORMED THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS ENCOURAGING VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS TO OPERATE FOUR MORE SMALL GROUP HOMES WITH AN ADDITIONAL 32 PLACES AND 60 MORE FOSTER CARE PLACES IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
+FOR THESE PLANS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THE CO-OPERATION OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND CIVIC-MINDED CITIZENS ARE DESPARATELY NEEDED.
+ IN ORDER TO MAKE THE RESPONSES MORE FORTHCOMING, THE
DEPARTMENT SHOULD STEP UP ITS EFFORTS.+
DR HO ALSO SUGGESTED THAT A LESS FAVOURABLE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO PLACE A CHILD IN RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS, SUCH AS CHILDREN'S HOMES, CRECHES AND BOYS' AND GIRLS' CENTRES.
THE SECOND CONSTRAINT RELATED TO THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE SUPERVISION AND GUIDANCE TO THE CHILD ENTRUSTED TO THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE.
DR HO POINTED OUT THAT A CHILD FROM A BROKEN MARRIAGE TENDED TO DEMAND MORE ATTENTION, CARE AND AFFECTION THAN ONE FROM A NORMAL FAMILY.
HE NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT THE EXISTING WORKLOAD OF A FAMILY SERVICE WORKER WAS MORE THAN 100 CASES AND SAID THE NEW RESPONSIBILITY CREATED BY THE BILL NEEDED TO BE DISCHARGED WITH THE EQUAL DEGREE OF DILIGENCE AND ATTENTION.
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON J.W. CHAMBERS THANKED DR FANG, MISS BENNETT AND DR HO KAM-FAI FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
HE AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF A TIME LIMIT OF ONE MONTH WERE PRESCRIBED FOR THE NOTIFICATION OF CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO BE MADE TO THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, AND SUPPORTED THE AMENDMENT MOVED BY DR FANG AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE.
HE EXPLAINED THAT A CENTRAL PLANNING UNIT HAD RECENTLY BEEN ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF FOSTER CARE AND SMALL GROUP HOMES.
+1 AM GLAD TO SAY THAT WE ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS AND THAT IN ADDITION TO EXISTING AGENCIES WHICH ARE INTERESTED IN EXPANDING THEIR PLACEMENTS, A NEW AGENCY WILL BE TAKING UP THE FOSTER CARE SERVICE VERY SHORTLY,
THE CENTRAL
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