XN000022-1986-05-22 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1986

WHERE RAINSTORMS ARE LOCALISED, IT WOULD BE UP TO PARENTS TO DECIDE WHETHER TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, BEARING IN MIND MEATHER, ROAD AND TRANSPORT CONDITIONS IN THEIR LOCALITY.

AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, ALL KINDERGARTENS WILL CLOSE WITH THE HOISTING OF TROPICAL STORM SIGNAL NO 3. ALL SCHOOLS WILL CLOSE WHEN SIGNAL NO 8 IS HOISTED.

+ IF KINDERGARTENS AND SCHOOLS ARE IN SESSION WHEN THE RELEVANT SIGNALS ARE HOISTED. HEADS OF SCHOOLS SHOULD ENSURE THAT SAFE AND ADEQUATE ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE FOR THE IR PUPILS TO RETURN HOME, SUCH AS COLLECTION BY THEIR PARENTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

AFTER THE PASSAGE OF A TYPHOON FOLLOWED BY THE LOWERING OF ALL SIGNALS ENABLING ALL SCHOOLS TO RESUME WITH THE NEXT SESSION, AN APPROPRIATE ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

+NEVERTHELESS, PARENTS SHOULD USE THEIR DISCRETION IN SENDING CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL, IF IT SEEMS TO THEM THAT LOCAL WEATHER, ROAD OR TRANSPORT CONDITIONS HAVE NOT BY THAT TIME RETURNED TO NORMAL. HEADS OF SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO INFORM PARENTS OF THIS DISCRETION BY CIRCULAR LETTER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO REMINDED HEADS OF SCHOOLS OF THE NEED TO MAKE ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR INTERNAL TESTS AND EXAMINATIONS FOR THOSE PUPILS WHO MISS SCHOOL BECAUSE OF HEAVY RAIN OR THUNDERSTORMS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT IS IMPORTANT TO REASSURE PARENTS THAT THEIR CHILDREN WILL NOT BE PENALISED UNDER THESE EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. ALSO, STUDENTS LIVING IN REMOTE AREAS OR OUTLYING ISLANDS SHOULD NOT BE PENALISED FOR BEING LATE UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES.+

RESIDENTS URGED TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGN

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RESIDENTS OF TUEN MUN WERE TODAY (THURSDAY) URGED TO GIVE FULL SUPPORT TO MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMMES WHICH WILL BE HELD THERE OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.

THE CALL WAS MADE BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TUEN MUN AD HOC COMMITTEE ON MENTAL HEALTH AND DISTRICT SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, MR CHAN CHE-HIM.

/MR CHAN