XN000022-1989-04-10 — Page 18

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MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1989

THEY WERE TOLD THAT PROGRAMMES PROVIDED IN DAY CRECHES WERE GEARED TOWARDS THE NORMAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN. OTHER THAN PHYSICAL CARE, EMPHASIS WAS ALSO PAID TO GIVING THEM INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION AND STIMULATION.

MR CHUI EXPLAINED THAT THE CURRENT POLICY WAS

ΤΟ PROVIDE SUBVENTED DAY CRECHE SERVICE ONLY TO FAMILIES WITH SOCIAL NEEDS AND LIMITED INCOME SUCH AS CHILDREN FROM SINGLE-PARENTS, OR BROKEN FAMILIES, CHILDREN WITH CHRONICALLY ILL PARENTS, AND CHILDREN WHO WERE THEMSELVES IN NEED OF CARE.

MR CHUI THEN ACCOMPANIED SWAC MEMBERS TO THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS' NG SHEUNG LAN MEMORIAL DAY NURSERY IN THE VICINITY.

SWAC MEMBERS WERE BRIEFED ON THE SERVICES OF DAY NURSERIES OFFERED TO CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN TWO AND SIX.

ACTIVITIES IN DAY NURSERIES WERE ORGANISED WITH THE AIM OF DEVELOPING CHILDREN'S PHYSICAL GROWTH AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS, MR

CHUI EXPLAINED.

HE ALSO BRIEFED THEM ON THE GOVERNMENT'S AIMS TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE PROVISION OF NURSERY PLACES ΤΟ MEET SOCIETY NEEDS; то PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF AIDED NURSERY PLACES TOGETHER WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEED.

BESIDES HELPING NON-PROFIT-MAKING DAY NURSERIES, MR CHUI

SAID, THE GOVERNMENT ALSO ASSISTED LOW INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH THE FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME.

AT THEIR NEXT STOP, SWAC MEMBERS WERE WORK OF THE FAMILY SERVICES CENTRE OPERATED DEPARTMENT IN TUNG SUN COMMERCIAL CENTRE.

ALSO ABLE TO SEE THE BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE

FAMILY AND CHILD CARE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH THESE FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES, AND AT PRESENT THERE ARE ABOUT 60 OUTLETS OF WHICH 30 FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES ARE OPERATED BY THE SWD IN 13 DISTRICTS.

REVIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON SERVICES FOR NEEDY FAMILIES, NURSERIES AND CRECHES WOULD BE FORWARDED ΤΟ THE SWAC AND AGENCIES LATER THIS MONTH.

WELFARE

THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY (HEALTH AND WELFARE), MR THOMAS WONG, ALSO ACCOMPANIED SWAC MEMBERS WHO INCLUDED MR ROBERT GAFF, DR LAM KUI- CHUN AND MR PAUL YONG, ON THEIR VISIT.

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