XN000022-1984-03-06 — Page 7

TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1984

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FULL WELFARE SERVICES PLEDGED FOR HOUSING ESTATES

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THE GOVERNMENT REMAINS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A FULL RANGE OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL WING

LUNG CHILD CARE CENTRE IN CHOI YUEN ESTATE, SHEUNG SHUI, HE SAID A SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY WOULD OPEN SHORTLY IN THE ESTATE, IN ADDITION TO A HOSTEL FOR THE ELDERLY AND A CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE WHICH HAD BEEN IN OPERATION.

+THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL WING LUNG CHILD CARE CENTRE ADDS ANOTHER IMPORTANT LINK TO THE CHAIN OF WELFARE PROVISIONS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS, MR CHAMBERS SAID.

+THE CENTRE WILL PROVIDE NOT ONLY A PLACE WHERE YOUNG CHILDREN ARE PROPERLY LOOKED AFTER WHILE THEIR PARENTS ARE AT WORK, BUT ALSO A CARING AND STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE CHILDREN CAN GROW AND DEVELOP, HE ADDED.

THE CENTRE, WITH A CAPACITY. FOR 150 CHILDREN, HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY A GRANT OF $498 000 FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND AND A DONATION OF $350 000 FROM THE WU YEE SUN AND WU JIEH YEE CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS.

THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL RUNS FIVE CHILD CARE CENTRES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES IN TSUEN WAN, TUEN MUN AND SHEUNG SHUI, PROVIDING A TOTAL OF 550 DAY CARE PLACES.

THESE CENTRES, MR CHAMBERS POINTED OUT, WERE NOT ONLY AN ESSENTIAL SOCIAL PROVISION FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THESE NEW TOWNS WHERE THE POPULATION INCLUDED A HIGH PROPORTION OF YOUNG CHILDREN, BUT ALSO SIGNIFIED THE READINESS OF THE HOSPITAL TO TAKE ON AN INCREASING ROLE IN THE PROVISION OF WELFARE SERVICES.

YOUNG TALENT SOUGHT FOR ANTI-NARCOTICS EFFORT

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YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BEING URGED TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL HELP IN A SCHEME AIMED AT ENCOURAGING THEM TO DESIGN, PLAN AND IMPLEMENT ANTI-NARCOTICS EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLICITY PROJECTS.

THE 1984-85 +YOUTH AGAINST DRUGS SCHEME+ RUN BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS IS OPEN TO ALL YOUTHS WHO ARE 15 AND ABOVE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NARCOTICS DIVISION, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, EXPLAINED TODAY.

+APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO FORM GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE MEMBERS, AND ALL MUST BE RECOMMENDED BY THEIR SCHOOLS, YOUTH CENTRES, COMMUNITY CENTRES OR EMPLOYERS, HE SAID.

/+FACH SUCCESSFUL