XN000022-1992-01-20 — Page 5

MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 1992

TO ВЕ

HE SAID IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ALWAYS CONVINCING WHEN THEY WERE TALKING TO BUSINESS PEOPLE OVERSEAS.

"WHAT THEY WANT TO KNOW AND WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR ARE FROM TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE AND WHO KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE DO BUSINESS HERE, AND THE "AMBASSADORS" SCHEME PROVIDES JUST THAT WE THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA,' SIR DAVID SAID.

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SWAC RECOMMENDS NO LEGISLATION FOR UNATTENDED CHILDREN

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SWAC} HAS RECOMMENDED, AFTER STUDYING A REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ON FINDINGS OF A PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON MEASURES ΤΟ PREVENT CHILDREN FROM BEING LEFT UNATTENDED AT HOME, THAT SEPARATE LEGISLATION SHOULD NOT BE INTRODUCED AT THIS JUNCTURE. ·

HOWEVER, SWAC MEMBERS URGED THE GOVERNMENT ΤΟ LOOK INTO THE FEASIBILITY OF TIGHTENING UP THE EXISTING RELATED REGULATION. THEY ALSO AGREED THAT THE ISSUE WOULD BE REVIEWED IF SITUATION DID NOT IMPROVE IN THE NEXT ONE OR TWO YEARS.

SWAC MEMBERS AGREED THAT INCREASE OF CHILD CARE FACILITIES AND SUPPORTING SERVICES: PROMOTION OF MUTUAL-HELP GROUPS; AND ENHANCEMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN COMBINATION PROVIDE BETTER ALTERNATIVES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY IN HELPING THE LOWER INCOME FAMILIES WHICH ARE MORE PRONE TO LEAVING THEIR CHILDREN UNATTENDED AT HOME.

EXPLAINING THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANNED STRATEGIES ΤΟ TACKLE THE PROBLEM AT THE SWAC MEETING THIS (MONDAY) AFTERNOON, AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR ANTHONY CHAN, POINTED OUT THAT AS AT THE END OF LAST MONTH (DECEMBER) THERE WERE 31,942 DAY NURSERY PLACES AND 1,124 DAY CRECHE PLACES.

"THERE IS A PLAN TO PROVIDE 1,400 MORE NURSERY PLACES ANNUALLY. THE DEMAND IS EXPECTED TO BE MET BY 1999/2000. THE NUMBER OF DAY CRECHES WILL ALSO BE INCREASED BY PHASES, PARTICULARLY IN NEW TOWNS, TO CATER FOR FAMILIES WHO NEED HELP TO LOOK AFTER CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OLD," MR CHAN SAID.

ON WORKBASED CHILD-CARE CENTRE, MR CHAN NOTED THAT A SECOND EMPLOYER-SPONSORED CHILD-CARE CENTRE WOULD BE SET UP SHORTLY BY A HOSPITAL. HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THIS CONCEPT TO OTHER EMPLOYERS.

ON OCCASIONAL CHILD CARE SERVICE AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE SERVICE, MR CHAN SAID SUBJECT TO FINDINGS OF THE EVALUATIVE STUDIES AND THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES, THESE SERVICES WOULD BE EXPANDED.

/MR CHAN