Social_Welfare_Annual_Report_1972-1973 — Page 15

(e) investigations and recommendations for short term financial

assistance from certain trust funds;

(f) investigations conducted on behalf of other Government depart- ments, c.g. authentication of applications for University and Polytechnic student grants/loans, wrokmen's compensation, non- attendance at primary schools, etc.

37. The Division is responsible for carrying out statutory respon- sibilities arising out of the Protection of Women and Juveniles Ordin- ance Chapter 213, the Adoption Ordinance Chapter 290, the Marriage Ordinance Chapter 181, the Offences Against the Person Ordinance Chapter 212 and the Asiatic Emigration Ordinance Chapter 79.

38. The Department is responsible for the guardianship of children who through desertion or extreme neglect or cruelty on the part of parents have been denied basic care e.g. abandoned children, children of unmarried parents and children in moral or physical danger.

39. The Department's Children's Reception Centre at Chuk Yuca provides temporary care for children found abandoned or who are otherwise in need of care and protection. Apart from providing resi- dential care, arrangements are also made for observation and assess- ment of these children with a view to their eventual placement. The capacity of the Centre is 80.

40. Residential and day care services in nurseries, creches and play centres provided for the care of children continue to be in great demand because there are a considerable number of mothers who have to work to supplement family incomes and who are therefore unable to devote sufficient care and attention to their children at a vital period of their growth and development. The Five-Year Plan proposes in particular the expansion of day nursery places. The expansion is matched by increased Government aid to nurseries in the form of sub- vention. It is planned to introduce legislation aiming at ensuring minimum but adequate standards of child care in these day care centres.

41. During the year under review more than 10,700 places were available for children in some 79 non-profit-making nurseries and creches and 11 play centres. The majority of these are sponsored by voluntary welfare organizations, and are assisted by a recurrent sub- vention from Government UNICEF has also assisted some nurseries with donated equipment.

9

Page 15Page 16