XN000022-1987-01-21 — Page 38

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1987

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TURNING TO THE CONTROL OF CHILD CARE CENTRES, MR CHAMBERS SAID + A RECENT REVIEW HAS RECOMMENDED CERTAIN CHANGES TO IMPROVE THE INSPECTION ARRANGEMENTS, AND MORE DETAILED GUIDANCE IS BEING ISSUED TO STAFF ON THEIR ENFORCEMENT OF THE CHILD CARE CENTRE ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS.+

HE SAID THAT THE PLANNING AND PROVISION OF CHILD CARE CENTRES WERE BEING DISCUSSED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FIVE YEAR PLAN REVIEW FOR SOCIAL WELFARE DEVELOPMENT NOW IN PROGRESS.

EFFORTS TO HELP STREET-SLEEPERS TO BE STEPPED UP

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL STEP UP EFFORTS THIS YEAR TO HELP STREET-SLEEPERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO WERE ELDERLY DISABLED, SUSPECTED TO BE ON DRUGS OR MENTALLY ILL, WITH A VIEW TO PERSUADING THEM TO ACCEPT WELFARE OR MEDICAL SERVICES OR REHOUSING.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PAULINE NG CONCERNING WELFARE FOR STREET SLEEPERS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS THEY CAUSED.

MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO PLANNING TO DEVELOP SOME DAY RELIEF CENTRES (POSSIBLY WITH SOME TEMPORARY SHELTER PLACES), TO BE OPERATED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, TO PROVIDE BASES FOR ASSISTING AND COUNSELLING STREET SLEEPERS.

+ IN ADDITION, A GRANT FROM A TRUST FUND UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION INCORPORATED WILL ENABLE THE MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY TO DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF ACCOMMODATION THEY PROVIDE IN THE SHAM SHUI PO CAMP, AND THE STREET SLEEPERS SHELTER SOCIETY WILL SHORTLY BE OPENING A NEW SHELTER IN WAN CHAI,- HE SAID.

THE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO PLANNING TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY EFFORTS IN THE DISTRICTS TO MARK THE OCCASION OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS.

/MR CHAMBERS