XN000022-1988-03-19 — Page 7

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1988

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MORE CHILD CARE CENTRES IN TUEN MUN

PARTS OF

WITH

THE

SIX MORE CHILD CARE CENTRES LOCATED IN DIFFERENT COFE TUEN MUN WILL BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS TO URGENT DEMAND FOR CHILD CARE SERVICES BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE RAPID INCREASE IN POPULATION IN THE DISTRICT.

THE REGIONAL SOCIAL WORK OFFICER (NEW TERRITORIES), MR CARLOS LEUNG, SAID THIS TODAY (SATURDAY).

SHAN

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE ST SIMON'S KING DAY NURSERY RUN BY THE O.M.S. ST SIMON HOME FOR FISHERMEN'S AND WORKMEN'S CHILDREN IN TUEN MUN.

WERE

AT

MR LEUNG NOTED THAT THERE

PRESENT. 15 GOVERNMENT-SUBVENTED AND TWO PRIVATELY-RUN CHILD CARE CENTRES AND ONE GOVERNMENT-SUBVENTED SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRE IN THE DISTRICT, PROVIDING 2,044 PLACES.

"ON THE TERRITORY-WIDE BASIS, THE GOVERNMENT'S

CURRENT TARGET

IS TO ASSIST VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO RUN 16 CHILD CARE CENTRES THROUGH SUBVENTION SO AS то PROVIDE 1,600 PLACES EACH FINANCIAL YEAR, MR LEUNG SAID.

"THERE IS MUCH MORE TO A SATISFACTORILY-RUN CHILD CARE CENTRE THAN CATERING FOR THE BASIC NEEDS OF YOUNG CHILDREN THROUGH THE PROVISION OF SAFE AND PROPER CARE OR AN ADEQUATE AND BALANCED DIET.

"IT SHOULD ENSURE THE CHILDREN'S OVERALL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES AND LEARNING, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THEIR INTELLECTUAL, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL GROWTH ACCORDING TO THEIR AGE, INTEREST AND ABILITY," HE SAID.

"THE CENTRE SHOULD ALSO CO-OPERATE CLOSELY WITH PARENTS SO AS

THEM TO ENHANCE THE CHILDREN'S BASIC KNOWLEDGE, HELP

PROPER DEVELOP HABITS AND AROUSE THEIR INTEREST IN LEARNING SO THAT THEY WILL GROW UP INTO MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY HEALTHY, GOOD-NATURED AND SOCIABLE ADULTS, HE ADDED.

"I

HE COMMENDED THE ST SIMON AGENCY FOR ITS NUMEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS PROVIDING RESIDENTIAL, MEDICAL, SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1954.

AND

THE AGENCY JS CURRENTLY OPERATING A CHILD CARE CENTRE AT TAI HING ESTATE, PROVIDING CARE FOR 100 CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN TWO SIX. ANOTHER CHILD CARE CENTRE WILL COME INTO SERVICE OF THIS YEAR.

IN THE MIDDLE

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