TNAG-1073-FCO40-1323-Policy-of-the-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-including-1981 — Page 8

Chapter 1

The Present Situation

SERVICES PROVIDED

1.1

Child care centres and kindergartens provide care and education for children below primary school age. They serve a common population in the 3-5 year old age-range with child care centres also receiving younger children. There are also many similarities in their functions, because no rigid distinction can be made between the care and educational needs of very young children. Despite these similarities, these institutions have different

Their activities are registration requirements and standards of operation. regulated by separate ordinances and they come under the supervision of different Government departments.

Child care centres

1.2

Child care centres are for children under 6 years of age and their essential function is the provision of care and supervision, though part of the day is often taken up with educational activities. The majority are run by voluntary agencies and subvented by the Government to assist low-income families who are unable to provide adequate care for their children during the day. There are also a number of residential centres which cater for children who cannot live at home. In September 1979 there were about 15,000 children in child care centres.

1.3

The provision of child care services is governed by the Child Care

The Ordinance Centres Ordinance and the Child Care Centres Regulations. states that a child care centre means "any premises at which more than 5 children who are under the age of 6 years are habitually received for the purpose of care and supervision during part of the day or for longer periods". It is also a generic term which refers to four distinct types of provision:

(a)

a creche providing full day or residential care for children under 2 years of age;

(b)

(c)

(d)

a residential care centre for children too old to be in a creche;

a day care centre for children from 2-5 years old. The hours of operation vary but may be broadly divided into those which provide full day care and those which provide half day care; and

a playgroup, providing play activities, sometimes organised by the mothers themselves in an informal setting. Play-groups have so far appealed mainly to expatriate families.

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