XN000022-1991-01-30 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1991

6

THREE APPROACHES IDENTIFIED TO TACKLE UNATTENDED CHILDREN PROBLEM

THREE POSSIBLE APPROACHES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO

AT OF PROBLEM

PARENTS LEAVING YOUNG CHILDREN UNATTENDED ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE,

HON MICHAEL TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.

TACKLE HOME,

THE

THE

THE

CARTLAND,

CARTLAND

THE

EDUCATION

AND THE

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHRUNG YAN-LUNG, MR SAID

WERE APPROACHES

LEGISLATION, PUBLIC PROVISION OF CHILD CARE FACILITIES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.

"ACTION MAY BE CONTEMPLATED UNDER EXISTING LEGISLATION.

"PROSECUTION FOR WILFUL NEGLECT MAY BE TAKEN UNDER THE OFFENCES LEFT AGAINST THE PERSONS ORDINANCE (CAP. 212) IN THE CASE OF CHILDREN UNATTENDED AT HOME IF THE ACT IS LIKELY TO CAUSE UNNECESSARY SUFFERING OR INJURY TO HEALTH, HE SAID.

**

THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE (CAP. 213) ALSO PROVIDED FOR THE CARE OR PROTECTION OF YOUNG

IN THESE CHILDREN CIRCUMSTANCES, HE SAID.

"WHETHER OR NOT LEGISLATION MAKING IT A SPECIFIC OFFENCE TO LEAVE YOUNG CHILDREN UNATTENDED ON ANY OCCASION SHOULD ALSO BE INTRODUCED

PRESENTLY BEING RE-EXAMINED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HE ADDED.

IS

|1

MR CARTLAND SAID PUBLICITY TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF HOME SAFETY UNATTENDED AT AND то WARN OF THE DANGERS OF LEAVING YOUNG CHILDREN HOME WAS UNDERTAKEN THROUGH TELEVISION, RADIO, NEWSPAPERS, POSTERS AND PAMPHLETS.

HE NOTED THAT FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES WERE PROVIDED TO ARRANGING FOR FOCUS ON PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDING THAT OF PROPER SUPERVISION OF THEIR CHILDREN.

HOME SAFETY PROGRAMMES WERE ALSO ORGANISED ΤΟ PUBLIC,

PARENTS, INCLUDING

ON THE DANGERS OF LEAVING UNATTENDED AT HOME, HE ADDED.

EDUCATE

THE CHILDREN

"THESE EFFORTS

BE WILL CONTINUE AND WILL

STRENGTHENED,

HE

SAID.

MR CARTLAND SAID FOR FAMILIES WHO FACED DIFFICULTIES IN CARING, SUPPORT FACILITIES AT ALL TIMES, FOR THEIR CHILDREN A WIDE RANGE OF WERE PROVIDED AND WOULD CONTINUE TO BE EXPANDED.

"FAMILY

THOSE

AND MAY MAKE USE OF DAY NURSERIES AND CRECHES, WITH SPECIAL NEEDS MAY RECEIVE HELP UNDER THE FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME.

CARE FOR

FROM

"A NUMBER OF NURSERIES, UNDER THE EXPERIMENTAL OCCASIONAL

SCHEME, CHILD

OFFER FLEXIBLE FULL DAY OR

DAY CARE

HALF CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS HAVE AN URGENT OR SUDDEN NEED TO BE AWAY HOME, HE SAID.

+

/ADDITIONALLY, HOME