Increase in care for children

AN 80 per cent increase in places in child care centres will be provided this year.

Officials hope the expansion will discourage parents from leaving their children unattended and reduce the risk of accidents at home.

Director of Social Welfare Ian Strachan, speaking at the close of the International Conference on Family and Community Care yesterday, said 180 extra occasional child care places would be offered in October.

The total number of places would be increased from 225 to 700 by 1997.

Parents can take their children to the centres for a minimum of two hours for $13.

Priscilla Lui Tsang Sun-kai, director of Against Child Abuse, said the service had limitations.