XN000022-1991-11-05 — Page 9

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1991

"WITH AN INCREASING NUMBER OF MOTHERS IN EMPLOYMENT, THERE IS AN INCREASED NEED FOR DAY CARE FACILITIES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WHO CANNOT BE CARED FOR BY THEIR FAMILIES DURING THE DAY, SHE SAID.

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CHILD CARE CENTRES CARRY OUT THIS SUPPORTIVE ROLE BY LOOKING AFTER THE CARE, DEVELOPMENTAL AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF YOUNG CHILDREN THROUGH DAY NURSERY SERVICE FOR CHILDREN AGDED TWO TO SIX AND DAY CRECHE SERVICE FOR CHILDREN AGED BELOW TWO.

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"IN FACT, AS THE ROLE OF WOMEN HAS CHANGED AND THE FAMILY NEEDS HAVE CHANGED, WE ALSO NEED TO ADOPT A MORE FLEXIBLE APPROACH OUR CHILD CARE PROVISION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CHANGING SOCIETY, MRS SHIN SAID WHEN OUTLINING OCCASIONAL CHILD CARE AND WORK-BASED CHILD CARE SERVICES.

THE OCCASIONAL CHILD CARE SERVICE IS

CARRIED OUT BY THE SWD IN 53 DAY NURSERIES.

AN EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT

"WHEN FAMILIES HAVE SUDDEN CHILD CARE NEEDS, TEMPORARY CARE CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE ON HALF-DAY OR DAILY BASIS BY THESE NURSERIES SO THAT YOUNG CHILDREN WOULD NOT BE LEFT UNATTENDED AT HOME, SHE SAID.

SHE ADDED THAT WORK-BASED CHILD CARE SERVICE WAS ANOTHER

INNOVATION.

"IN BRIEF, WORK-BASED CHILD CARE SERVICE IS EMPLOYER-SPONSORED CHILD CARE PROGRAMME PROVIDED FOR THE USE OF

OF EMPLOYEES, MRS SHIN EXPLAINED, ADDING THAT THE SERVICE WAS A RELATIVELY NEW DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG.

SHE NOTED THAT A CENTRE OF THIS TYPE HAD BEEN OPERATED BY A LARGE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE FOR A YEAR, TO THE EXTREME SATISFACTION OF BOTH THE EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEES.

TURNING TO THE GOVERNMENT'S PUBLIC CONSULTATION EXERCISE ON MEASURES TO PREVENT CHILDREN BEING LEFT UNATTENDED AT HOME, MRS SHIN SAID ALTHOUGH A NUMBER OF MEASURES HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED, THERE WAS NO PRECONCEIVED STANCE ON WHICH MEASURE TO ADOPT.

"IT IS HOPED THAT THROUGH PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND CONCERTED EFFORTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, BETTER PROTECTION AND A MORE FULFILLING ENVIRONMENT CAN BE PROVIDED FOR OUR NEXT GENERATION, ADDED.

SHE

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