XN000022-1992-01-20 — Page 6

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MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 1992

MR CHAN SAID THROUGH HOME HELP SERVICES SUCH AS CHILDMINDING, CHILDREN ESCORT SERVICE AND DELIVERY OF DAILY NECESSITIES, THE CHANCE OF HAVING CHILDREN LEFT UNATTENDED WOULD BE REDUCED. THERE ARE 64 HOME HELP TEAMS IN OPERATION AND THERE IS A PLAN TO PROVIDE 70 MORE TEAMS BY 1999/2000.

"FAMILY AIDES, ANOTHER FORM OF FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICE INTRODUCED IN NOVEMBER 1990, IS DUE TO BE EVALUATED. THERE ARE CURRENTLY FOUR UNITS PROVIDING SUCH A SERVICE. SUBJECT TO FINDINGS OF THE EVALUATION, THERE IS A PLAN TO PROVIDE 45 ADDITIONAL FAMILY AIDE UNITS BY 1999/2000, HE SAID.

MR CHAN ADDED THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WAS EXAMINING THE FEASIBILITY OF EXEMPTING MUTUAL HELP GROUPS FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE EXISTING CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE SO AS TO FACILITATE INTERESTED ORGANISATIONS TO SET UP SUCH GROUPS IN SUITABLE PREMISES.

"THE GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE CONTINUED EFFORTS ΤΟ ENCOURAGE PARENTS AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS TO FORM SUCH GROUPS," HE SAID.

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MR CHAN TOLD THE MEETING THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ADOPTED SERIES OF MEASURES TO PUBLICISE THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT LEAVING CHILDREN UNATTENDED AT HOME.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO STEP UP ITS EFFORT TO PUBLICISE THIS MESSAGE THROUGH VARIOUS CHANNELS. ALSO, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE USE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S HOTLINE SERVICE ON TEL. 343 2255 FOR ENQUIRIES IN THIS CONNECTION.

SO FAR, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD RECEIVED 190 WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS ON THE SUBJECT.

MAJORITY OF THE SUBMISSIONS FELT THAT MORE CHILD-CARE FACILITIES AND SUPPORTING SERVICES WILL PROVIDE THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. MUTUAL-HELP GROUPS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ARE ALSO REGARDED AS EFFECTIVE MEASURES.

HOWEVER, DIVERSED VIEWS WERE EXPRESSED ON WHETHER OR NOT LEGISLATION SHOULD BE INTRODUCED. OUT OF THE 190 SUBMISSIONS, 95 ARE AGAINST THE IDEA; 30 ARE IN FAVOUR; AND THE REST WITH MIXED VIEWS.

AIRPORT EMERGENCY PLANNING WORKSHOP OPENS

THE

INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANISATION FIFTH EMERGENCY PLANNING WORKSHOP IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION OPENS KONG TODAY (MONDAY).

PARTICIPATING IN THE WORKSHOP, NOW BEING HELD AT MARRIOTT HOTEL, ARE MORE THAN 50 REPRESENTATIVES FROM HONG 25 OTHER COUNTRIES FROM THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION.

/THE WORKSHOP

AIRPORT IN HONG

THE J.W. KONG

AND