XN000022-1991-11-06 — Page 46

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1991

ON

HONG FOR

THE SCHOOL SITUATION, MR CHAN SAID THAT 20 YEARS AGO KONG HAD JUST ACHIEVED THE PROVISION OF A PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACE EVERY CHILD. TODAY IT COULD PROVIDE ALL CHILDREN WITH NINE YEARS OF FREE EDUCATION.

"OVER 90% OF SECONDARY 3 LEAVERS CAN JOIN A SENIOR SECONDARY COURSE OR A FULL-TIME BASIC CRAFT COURSE. OVER 35% OF SECONDARY 5 LEAVERS CAN CONTINUE IN FULL-TIME EDUCATION, EITHER IN THE SIXTH FORM, IN A TECHNICAL INSTITUTE OR IN A COLLEGE OF EDUCATION. 18% OF THE RELEVANT AGE GROUP CAN PROCEED TO DEGREE OR SUB-DEGREE COURSES IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS,

"INDEED OUR PRESENT EDUCATION PROVISION STARTS EVEN BEFORE PRIMARY SCHOOL. ALTHOUGH KINDERGARTENS REMAIN OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC SECTOR, SOME GOVERNMENT FUNDING HAS BEEN PROVIDED AS RECOMMENDED IN THE EDUCATION COMMISSION'S 2ND REPORT. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS

WE HAVE MORE THAN TRIPLED THE FUNDS PROVIDED FOR FEE REMISSION. AS PREDICTED, THIS HAS LED TO SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER SALARIES FOR KINDERGARTEN STAFF, IMPROVED RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF TEACHERS AND MORE APPLICATIONS FOR TEACHER TRAINING, HE SAID.

GOVT TO STRENGTHEN CHILD PROTECTION

THE GOVERNMENT WILL PROPOSE LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS TO ENHANCE CHILD PROTECTION IN THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF THANKS TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG SAID: "IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE SHALL BE PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE TO BETTER DEFINE BOTH CIRCUMSTANCES FOR CHILD PROTECTION AND THE POWERS OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE.

**

"AMENDMENTS WILL ALSO BE PROPOSED TO THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT UNSUITABLE PERSONS FROM ACTING AS CHILDMINDERS.

H

MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO PROVIDE 1,400 NURSERY PLACES ANNUALLY, IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING 1,000 SUBSIDIZED DAY CRECHE PLACES AND SOME 21,000 SUBSIDIZED NURSERY PLACES.

"OUR INTENTION IS TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND CHILD CARE SERVICES AND TO ADOPT NEW APPROACHES TO MEET CHANGING NEEDS," SHE SAID.

NOTING THAT HONG KONG RANKED AMONGST THE BEST ON HEALTH INDICES BY WORLD STANDARDS, MRS WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT PLANNED TO INTRODUCE A NEW HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM AND TO PROVIDE DENTAL HEALTH COUNSELLING TO PARENTS.

/"WE WILL