TNAG-0735-FCO40-939-Policy-objective-for-the-developing-of-Hong-Kong-in-the-1980-1978 — Page 43

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sought on a related matter concerning the provision of training courses.

In the event, no change to the entry requirements of this rank has been

made.

Child care centres

SE VJETER, JAMES A

Two other members made suggestions on the subject of child care.

Mr Cheong-Leen suggested that the Urban Council might be interested in providing subvented nurseries and creches to complement the work now being done by voluntary agencies. While I appreciate Mr Cheong-Leen's good

intention, this would be outside the Council's existing area of responsi-

bility and I will need to be convinced that the Urban Council or the

Urban Services Department has the necessary facilities and expertise to

enter this field.

Miss Bennett raised the question of qualifications for workers

in child care centres. The Government has considered carefully the many

views expressed on the proposed relaxation of these qualifications. It

View shares the re

of the Social Welfare Advisory Committee that

Form III is a realistic level which would ease difficulties experienced in

recruiting and especially in retaining staff without compromising the

need for children to be adequately looked after. It would also make it possible for young persons leaving school after Form III who are truly

interested in child care to have a career in this field after suitable

training. Let me stress that Form III is proposed to be the minimum

qualification and that any child care centre would be at liberty to employ

exclusively persons with Form V academic qualifications; Government would

also continue to calculate their eligibility for subventions on the basis

of using Form V graduates for this work.

I agree with Miss Bennett that proper career prospects should.

be created for workers in child care centres. In the event the proposal is approved and implemented, training courses would be provided for child care workers with Form III qualifications which together with a suitable period of working experience could be deemed to be equivalent to formal education at the Form V level, thus enabling suitable child care workers

to become supervisor in due course.

The Central Registry for the Disabled

Miss Bennett also made a request to advance the date of the

establishment of the Central Registry for the Disabled. The Rehabilitation