XN000022-1988-04-27 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1988

THE REVIEW ALSO ADDRESSED THE QUESTION OF THE BEST MEANS OF ENSURING THAT APPROPRIATE OPERATING STANDARDS WERE MET IN FUTURE.

IN THE INTERIM, MR CHAMBERS SAID A VOLUNTARY REGISTRATION SCHEME TO BE RUN BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WAS PLANNED. UNDER THIS, HOMES WHICH MET THE VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE ISSUED WITH A REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE.

"THIS WOULD AMOUNT TO RECOGNITION OF THE STANDARD OF SERVICE

PROVIDED.

"IT WOULD ACT AS A GUIDE TO CONSUMERS AND IN TURN AS AN INCENTIVE TO OPERATORS TO BECOME REGISTERED, HE SAID.

"I HOPE THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO IMPLEMENT REGISTRATION SCHEME BY OCTOBER THIS YEAR, HE ADDED.

THIS VOLUNTARY

IN ADDITION, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WOULD STEP UP VISITS TO PRIVATE HOMES AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO THE OPERATORS WHERE NECESSARY.

SUITABLE PUBLICITY WOULD ALSO BE CARRIED OUT TO ENCOURAGE FAMILIES OF ELDERLY PEOPLE LIVING IN THESE HOMES TO VISIT THEM MORE OFTEN AND TO DISCUSS MATTERS RELATING TO THEIR WELFARE WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF THE HOMES, MR CHAMBERS SAID.

PRISONER TRANSFER A COMPLEX ISSUE

THE QUESTION OF MAKING ARRANGEMENTS WITH CHINA SIMILAR TO THOSE IN THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE ON THE TRANSFER OF SENTENCED PERSONS IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE WHICH HAS NOT YET BEEN FULLY AND FORMALLY ADDRESSED, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

BARNES, SAID

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HILTON

CHEONG-LEEN, MR

BARNES SAID NO DECISIONS HAD THEREFORE BEEN REACHED.

"HOWEVER, THE MATTER WILL BE PURSUED AND GIVEN VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION," HE ADDED.

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