XN000022-1994-11-08 — Page 11

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1994

"FOR CHILDREN WITH A DISABILITY, WE WILL ARRANGE ADDITIONAL PLACES IN MAINSTREAM CHILD CARE CENTRES, PRE-SCHOOL CENTRES AND SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRES.

"To CONTINUE SATISFYING THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS FOR DISABLED CHILDREN, OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, WE WILL REPROVISION FIVE SPECIAL SCHOOLS AT AN ESTIMATED CAPITAL COST OF $96 MILLION, MR STRACHAN SAID.

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HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF TRAINING IN 109 SHELTERFD WORKSHOPS AND DAY ACTIVITY (ENTRES, SET UP 737 ADDITIONAL PLACES IN PRE-SCHOOL CENTRES, AND EXPAND PROGRAMMES FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH AUTISM.

POINTING OUT THAT THE PUBLIC HAD A ROLE TO PLAY IN ACCEPTING THE DISABLED AND OFFERING THEM A WELCOMING HAND TO INTEGRATE INTO THE SOCIETY, MR STRACHAN SAID A MAJOR PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN WOULD BE LAUNCHED TO FIGHT PREJUDICE.

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CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES, THE SOCIAL WELFARE CHIEF SAID HIS DEPARTMENT WOULD PROVIDE AN EXTRA 80 FOSTER CARE PLACES, SET UP AN ADDITIONAL 27 SMALL GROUPS TO CATER FOR 296 CHILDREN IN A FAMILY-LIKE SETTING, AND PROVIDE 47 MORK SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS.

"LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY UNIT WHICH REPRESENTS THE CORE BUILDING BLOCK OF OUR SOCIETY. WITHOUT A STABLE NETWORK OF FAMILIES, OUR SOCIETY WILL INEVITABLY COLLAPSE.

"THIS YEAR, WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING 1,700 ADDITIONAL PLACES IN DAY NURSERIES AND DAY CRECHES, AS WELL AS IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF COUNSELLING SERVICES BY RECRUITING 127 EXTRA FAMILY SOCIAL WORKERS AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

"IN 1995/96, WE WILL SET UP A THIRD REFUGE, IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING HARMONY HOUSE AND THE WAI ON HOUSE FOR WOMEN, TO HELP WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN WITH PROBLEMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HE ADDED.

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AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE MEETS ON THURSDAY

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MEMBERS OF THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON THE NEW AIRPORT AND RELATED PROJECTS WILL HOLD A SPECIAL PLENARY MEETING AT 2.30 PM ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 10) TO DISCUSS PROPOSED EQUITY INJECTION FOR THE AIRPORT RAILWAY.

THE MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE URBAN COUNCIL EDINBURGH PLACE, CENTRAL.

CHAMBERS,

REQUESTED ΤΟ RESERVE A SEAT 829 6745 DURING OFFICE HOURS.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO OBSERVE THE PROCEEDINGS

BY TELEPHONING MR CHAN HO-KEUNG

ARE

ON

/AS SEATS