XN000022-1988-03-26 — Page 5

SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1988

IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES

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A SERIES OF IMPROVEMENTS RECENTLY INTRODUCED TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES WAS OUTLINED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TODAY (SATURDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING

A

CEREMONY OF THE YMCA-KWUN TONG CENTRE AT TSUI PING ESTATE, SHE SAID THE DEPARTMENT COMPLETED REVIEW LAST YEAR ON THE PLANNING RATIO FOR THESE CENTRES.

IT RECOMMENDED

A MORE FLEXIBLE APPROACH OF PROVIDING ONE CENTRE FOR EVERY 20,000 TO 30,000 POPULATION TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS.

THE RECOMMENDATION WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ENDORSED

WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

BY THE SOCIAL

IN THE AREAS OF STAFFING AND FACILITIES, MRS WONG NOTED THAT AN ADDITIONAL WELFARE WORKER POST HAD BEEN CREATED FOR ALL CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES WHILE ADDITIONAL SUPERVISOR POSTS WOULD BE CREATED TO STEP UP THE SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT OF THESE CENTRES.

"FURTHERMORE, THE EXTENSION OF THE 'STANDARD COST' SUBVENTION SYSTEM MEANS THAT NEWLY-COMPLETED AND REPROVISIONED CENTRES WILL HAVE GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN ACQUIRING SUITABLE AND NECESSARY EQUIPMENT FURNITURE.

AND

JOCKEY

"ALSO, ALLOCATION IS AVAILABLE FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG CLUB TO PROVIDE AIR-CONDITIONING BEFORE THIS SUMMER FOR 20 NEW CENTRES AS WELL AS FOR THE READING AND STUDY ROOMS IN 68 EXISTING CENTRES, SHE SAID.

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IN ADDITION, THE DEPARTMENT WILL GRADUALLY ARRANGE REPROVISIONING FOR CENTRES, THE SIZES OF WHICH ARE SUB-STANDARD) OR WHICH ARE LOCATED AT ROOF-TOPS OF OLD HOUSING ESTATES, MRS WONG SAID, NOTING THAT THE KWUN TONG CENTRE WAS THE FIRST YMCA ROOF-TOP CENTRE REPROVISIONED TO A NEW HOUSING ESTATE.

SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE PROVIDED FOR THREE MORE YMCA ROOF-TOP CENTRES IN 1988-89 WHILE ANOTHER EIGHT CENTRES WOULD BE REPROVISIONED TO PREMISES OF STANDARD SIZE WITHIN THE NEXT TWO SHE SAID.

YEARS,

NEXT

SHE STRESSED THAT TO FOSTER THE PROPER DEVELOPMENT OF THE GENERATION, IT WAS NECESSARY TO CONSTANTLY REVIEW THE YOUTH POLICY AND TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES.

/CHILDREN AND