XN000022-1989-12-05 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5,1989

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THEY WILL BE ASKED TO GO TO A DISTRIBUTION/COLLECTION CENTRE IN THEIR HOME DISTRICT TO OBTAIN A COPY OF "CHOICE OF SC110OLS" PORM AND A LIST OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL THEN ALLOCATE A PRIMARY 1 PLACE TO THEIR CHILDREN WITHIN THEIR HOME DISTRICT WITH THE PARENTS' CHOICES FULLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

DETAIL OF THE CENTRAL ALLOCATION WILL BE ANNOUNCED EARLY NEXT YEAR, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

PLANS IN HAND TO DEVELOP RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE SERVICES

PLANS TO DEVELOP AND EXPAND RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE SERVICES HAVE BEEN DEVISED BY A STEERING COMMITTEE COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

SAID

THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR ALFRED CHUI, THIS TODAY (TUESDAY) AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE HONG KONG STUDENT AID SOCIETY.

"THE PLANS ARE TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS PUT FORWARD BY THE WORKING GROUP ON DEVELOPMENT OF RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE SERVICES UNDER THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

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'THEY INCLUDE THE EXPANSION OF NON-INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES FOSTER CARE AND SMALL GROUP HOMES,' HE SAID.

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LIKE

MR CHUI SAID IT WAS THE COMMUNITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF CHILDREN FROM BROKEN FAMILIES, AND RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE WAS PROVIDED TO CATER TO THEIR NEEDS.

OUTLINING THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE SERVICES, MR CHUI SAID THE CONCEPT AND FORMS OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES HAD CHANGED GREATLY.

HE NOTED THAT THE SERVICES DATED BACK TO THE 19TH CENTURY WHEN ORPHANAGES WERE SET UP BY RELIGIOUS GROUPS.

"IN THE 70'S, HONG KONG BEGAN ΤΟ SEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NON-INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES, SUCH AS FOSTER CARE AND SMALL GROUP HOMES,

"IN THE EARLY 80'S, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT DECIDED TO EXPAND THE NON-INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES, INCLUDING PLANS TO SET UP 15 SMALL GROUP HOMES AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTRAL FOSTER CARE UNIT IN 1982," HE SAID.

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