XN000022-1989-06-28 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1989

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SHE SAID IF THERE WERE SUFFICIENT CHILD CARE SERVICES AVAILABLE THERE WOULD BE MORE WOMEN JOINING THE LABOUR FORCE TO EASE THE LABOUR SHORTAGE PROBLEM.

SHE ALSO CRITICISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR ITS SLOW RESPONSE ΤΟ VARIOUS SUGGESTIONS MADE BY LABOUR GROUPS TO HELP WORKING PARENTS AND WORKING WIVES.

MRS LAU SAID SHE WAS SURPRISED TO FOUND THAT EXISTING FAMILY WELFARE SERVICES ATTEMPTED TO COVER MANY ASPECTS OF CARE AND PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE BUT AFTER-SCHOOL CARE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WAS FOUND TO BE DEFICIENT.

SHE NOTED THAT AFTER-SCHOOL CARE COULD HELP TO THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN RELATION TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD TO CONSIDER THE PROVISION OF SUCH HAD BEEN FOUND AN INVALUABLE ONE FOR WORKING PARENTS.

SOLVE SOME OF THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE, WHICH

AS FOR OTHER SERVICES, SHE SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO ASSIST PARENTS TO DEAL WITH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN A BID TO REDUCE

FAMILY PROBLEMS.

ALSO, MRS LAU SUGGESTED MORE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES BE PROVIDED FOR PARENTS THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS, SUCH AS THE MASS MEDIA, SO THAT WORKING PARENTS COULD BE EDUCATED ON WAYS AND SKILLS OF CARRYING OUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN THE LIMITED TIME THEY HAD WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

CHILDREN DESERVE GOOD HEALTH CARE

* * *

HONG KONG,

WITH ITS EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES, MUST SHOW DETERMINATION IN LETTING CHILDREN ENJOY THE HIGHEST ATTAINABLE STANDARD OF HEALTH, DR THE HON LEONG CHE-HUNG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING IN THE MOTION DEBATE ON THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN, DR LEONG SAID THAT A HEALTHY CHILD WOULD BECOME A FIT ADULT OF THE FUTURE. AND A MUCH LESSER BURDEN ON THE HEALTH CARE BUDGET OF THE COMMUNITY.

HE SAID THE IDEA OF ECONOMICAL HEALTH CARE FOR HONG KONG'S SCHOOL CHILDREN APPEARED SOUND BUT LACKED A WELL-DEFINED POLICY.

"IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE SYSTEM IS CHECK-UP FOR DEVELOPING SCHOOL CHILDREN OR SCHEME.

A

INTENDED FOR A HEALTH COMPREHENSIVE CURATIVE

/"NOR IS