XN000022-1992-02-26 — Page 27

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1992

"INDEED, THIS

ECONOMIC SUCCESS, SHE NOTED.

IS A KEY

DRIVING FORCE BEHIND HONG KONG'S

GOVERNMENT PROVIDED

AT THE SAME TIME, MRS CHAN SAID THE

LOWER

INCOME,

DID

SPECIFIC SUPPORT FOR LOWER INCOME GROUPS. FOR EXAMPLE, SHE SAID, AROUND HALF OF ALL EMPLOYEES, WHO HAD RELATIVELY NOT PAY TAX.

A

"THIRTY-SEVEN PER CENT OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS LIVE IN HEAVILY SUBSIDISED PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING WHILST PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROVIDES SAFETY NET FOR THOSE UNABLE TO WORK OR TO EARN ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

"NO

**

ONE NEED BE DEPRIVED OF EDUCATION OR MEDICAL CARE LACK OF MEANS, MRS CHAN SAID.

THROUGH

WIDE-RANGING SERVICES FOR SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES

THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO EXPANDING CHILD CARE AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES то HELP PARENTS CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

A TARGET OF 1,400 DAY NURSERY PLACES FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF TWO AND SIX HAS BEEN SET ANNUALLY UNTIL DEMAND IS FULLY MET.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON NG MING-YUM AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MRS WONG SAID: "AT THE SAME TIME, DAY CRECHES FOR CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OF AGE WILL BE EXPANDED BY PHASES, PARTICULARLY IN NEW TOWNS, TO CATER FOR NEEDY AND SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES."

THE SECRETARY

SAID EXPANSION OF FAMILY AIDE AND HOME HELP

SERVICES HAD ALSO BEEN ACCORDED PRIORITY.

"IT

IS PLANNED THAT 31 ADDITIONAL FAMILY AIDE WORKERS AND 44 ADDITIONAL HOME HELP TEAMS WILL BE PROVIDED BY 1995/96.

MRS WONG NOTED THAT THERE WERE 34,256 SINGLE-PARENT THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY LAST YEAR.

HOUSEHOLDS

IN ADDITION, THERE WERE 20 SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS IN THE

MARINE POPULATION.

SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP CAN APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME.

ON TOP OF THE BASIC RATE, SPECIAL GRANTS ARE PROVIDED INCLUDING FEES FOR CHILDREN TO ATTEND A DAY CRECHE, DAY NURSERY OR AFTER SCHOOL CARE PROGRAMME OR TO PARTICIPATE IN OTHER SOCIAL ACTIVITIES WHICH HELP то ALLEVIATE THE SOCIAL DEPRIVATION CAUSED BY THE ABSENCE OF ONE PARENT.

/SINCE NOVEMBER