XN000022-1983-05-31 — Page 7

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TUESDAY, MAY 31, 1983

+ONE POSSIBLE WAY TO HELP REDUCE THE COST FOR HIRING PROFESSIONAL STAFF IS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF SEVERAL BLOCKS OF BUILDINGS TO BE SUPERVISED BY ONE QUALIFIED HOUSING MANAGER.

IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE HIGH STANDARD OF MANAGEMENT FOR ITS ESTATES, MR CHOY SAID, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT ARRANGED FROM TIME TO TIMÉ ITS STAFF TO STUDY EXTRA-MURAL OR PART-TIME TRAINING COURSES IN HOUSING MANAGEMENT,

+LAST YEAR 89 HOUSING ASSISTANTS COMPLETED THEIR THREE-YEAR COURSE ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY'S DEPARTMENT OF EXTRA-MURAL STUDIES, AND 219 OTHERS ARE NOW TAKING THE SAME COURSE.+

PARENTS TOLD TO APPLY FOR NURSERY FEE HELP

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PARENTS WHO WISH TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO DAY NURSERIES OR KINDERGARTENS ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR FEE ASSISTANCE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

PARENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE AFTER SEPTEMBER 1, 1983 SHOULD ALSO APPLY EARLY.

APPLICANTS SHOULD APPLY TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNIT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT NEAREST THEIR HOMES. THERE ARE 30 SUCH SECURITY UNITS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

APPLICATION FORMS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THESE UNITS AND FROM FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES OF THE DEPARTMENT AND DAY NURSERIES.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT ALTHOUGH APPLICATIONS MIGHT BE MADE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THEY SHOULD PREFERABLY BE SUBMITTED THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE DATE OF ADMISSION.

THE FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME FOR PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES, IN OPERATION SINCE SEPTEMBER 1982, IS DESIGNED TO HELP PARENTS PAY THE FEES CHARGED IN DAY NURSERIES AND KINDERGARTENS.

FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF INCOME ELIGIBILITY, PARENTS WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE TOTAL INCOME RECEIVED BY THE FAMILY, THE SIZE OF THE FAMILY AND THE RENT PAID.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSESSMENT, THE RENT WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM THE TOTAL FAMILY INCOME.

APART FROM QUALIFYING UNDER THE INCOME CRITERIA, APPLICANTS WILL HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE A SOCIAL NEED FOR THEIR CHILD TO RECEIVE FULL-DAY CARE.

EXAMPLES OF THIS NEED ARE SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES OR FAMILIES WHERE BOTH PARENTS HAVE TO WORK, LEAVING A LARGE NUMBER OF YOUNG CHILDREN UNATTENDED.

+TO QUALIFY, THESE WORKING MOTHERS WILL NEED TO BE EMPLOYED FOR NOT LESS THAN 104 HOURS A MONTH, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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