XN000022-1993-02-27 — Page 4

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1993

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HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PROPOSE THESE CENTRES TO ADOPT AN OVERALL APPROACH IN ADDRESSING THE NEEDS AND PROBLEMS OF THE YOUTH POPULATION, BY TAKING AN OVERALL LOOK AT THEIR LIVING CONDITION.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES WOULD CONTINUE TO SERVE THOSE AGED BETWEEN SIX AND 24, WITH FLEXIBILITY TO SERVE THE "OLDER YOUTH" MR STRACHAN SAID, ADDING THAT SERVICES SHOULD ALSO BE EXTENDED TO PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.

HE SAID RESOURCES CURRENTLY DISPERSED IN DIFFERENT SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD BE POOLED TOGETHER ΤΟ SET UP COMPREHENSIVE TEAMS.

"STAFF IN THE TEAM WILL BE DEPLOYED FLEXIBLY то MEET PARTICULAR NEEDS AND PROBLEMS OF YOUNG PEOPLE, REACHING OUT то SCHOOLS, STREET CORNERS, FAMILIES AND PLAYGROUNDS, HE EXPLAINED.

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HE SAID CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE SERVICES, OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK AND SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK WERE THE CORE SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE COMPREHENSIVE TEAM.

"FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION SHOULD BE INCLUDED, WHEREVER POSSIBLE,

HE ADDED.

AT PRESENT, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES IS ADEQUATE AND COMPARES VERY FAVOURABLY WITH OTHER MUCH-NEEDED SERVICES, INCLUDING ELDERLY RESIDENTIAL HOMES AND SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED, HE SAID.

"WITH A DECLINING YOUTH POPULATION, WE NEED ΤΟ ACHIEVE COST-EFFECTIVENESS IN SERVICE PROVISION. THE GOVERNMENT WANTS то REPROVISION EXISTING CENTRES IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS OVER-PROVISION TO AREAS WHERE THERE IS A SHORTFALL, OR ΤΟ NEWLY DEVELOPED AND REDEVELOPED AREAS," MR STRACHAN SAID.

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ORAL HEALTH PROGRAMME LAUNCHED

A THREE-YEAR TERRITORY-WIDE ORAL HEALTH

FL

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EDUCATION PROGRAMME

FOR PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN THE FIRST OF ITS KIND EVER UNDERTAKEN IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN LAUNCHED, THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, DR 3 H LEB, ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY).

ALL CHILDREN AGED UNDER FIVE WILL BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAMME WHICH WILL HELP THEM FORM DESIRABLE ORAL CARE HABITS, DR LEE SAID.

HE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A TWO-DAY CARNIVAL HELD ΤΟ MARK THE LAUNCHING OF THE PROGRAMME WHICH SPONSORED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.

IS

EXPLAINING THE NEED FOR SUCH A LARGE-SCALE EDUCATION PROGRAMME, DR LEE SAID: "STATISTICS HAVE SHOWN THAT THE MAIN PROBLEM FACING PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN IS DENTAL CARIES OR TOOTH DECAY."

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