XN000022-1983-12-12 — Page 7

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1983

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PARENTS WHO FAIL TO DO SO WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE GIVEN UP THE PLACE OFFERED TO THEM, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO GAVE ASSURANCE THAT CHILDREN WHO FAIL TO SECURE A DISCRETIONARY PLACE WILL BE GIVEN A PRIMARY ONE PLACE WITHIN THEIR HOME DISTRICT BY CENTRAL ALLOCATION NEXT MARCH, TOGETHER WITH CHILDREN WHO HAVE NOT APPLIED FOR A DISCRETIONARY PLACE.

SUCH ALLOCATION, HE SAID, WILL BE BASED PRIMARILY ON PARENTAL CHOICES.

FOSTER CARE CALLED FOR

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FOSTER CARE IS A SERVICE TO WHICH THOSE WITHOUT LARGE FINANCIAL RESOURCES COULD CONTRIBUTE, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

THEY COULD DO SO IN TERMS OF THEIR TIME, LOVE AND ABILITY TO CARE FOR CHILDREN WHO, THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, WERE UNABLE TO LIVE WITH THEIR OWN FAMILIES, HE SAID.

MR CHAMBERS WAS SPEAKING AT THE JOINT OPENING OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S CENTRAL FOSTER CARE UNIT AND THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND'S FOSTER CARE SERVICE IN WAN CHAI.

+THERE ARE ALREADY SIGNS THAT THE FOSTER CARE SERVICE IS BEGINNING TO FLOURISH WITH NEARLY 100 ENQUIRIES BEING RECEIVED FROM PROSPECTIVE FOSTER PARENTS FOLLOWING THE FIRST MAJOR PUBLICITY PROGRAMME EARLIER THIS YEAR, HE SAID.

STAFF OF THE CENTRAL FOSTER CARE UNIT AND THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND ARE CARRYING OUT HOME STUDIES OF THESE FAMILIES AND ARRANGING ACTUAL PLACEMENTS FOR CHILDREN.

MR CHAMBERS SAID THE PRESENCE TODAY OF A FOSTER FAMILY SURNAMED MAK AND LITTLE WAI-LING, WHO WAS PLACED WITH THEM AT THE END OF NOVEMBER, PROVIDED A LIVING PROOF OF THIS.

HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE MESSAGE +FOSTER CARE: A GIFT OF LOVE+ WOULD REACH THE MANY CARING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

HE SAID HE WAS SURE THAT THE OPENING OF THE TWO NEW OFFICES WOULD PROVIDE STILL GREATER IMPETUS TO THE DRIVE TO RECRUIT MORE FOSTER PARENTS.

+THEY WILL PROVIDE A CONVENIENTLY LOCATED CENTRE FOR HANDLING ENQUIRIES AND FOR DISSEMINATING PUBLICITY AND INFORMATION.

+THEY WILL ALSO BE OPEN TO ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO DROP IN AND TALK TO THE STAFF ABOUT WHAT IS INVOLVED IN BECOMING A FOSTER PARENT, HE SAID.

THE TWO