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WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1974
CONSTRUCTIVE ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR SCHOOL DROP-DUTS
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RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES ARE BEING PLANNED IN THE VARIOUS DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG FOR THE 12 TO 13 YEAR OLDS WHO ARE NEITHER AT SCHOOL NOR AT WORK.
SUCH PROJECTS AS EDUCATIONAL NIGHT SCHOOL CLASSES. VOCATIONAL COURSES BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION.
THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. PETER WILLIAMS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON THAT AS AN INITIAL STEP, A REGISTRATION PROGRAMME HAD BEEN MOUNTED IN WONG TAI SIN TO IDENTIFY THE NUMBER OF SUCH SCHOOL DROP-OUTS IN THE DISTRICT.
THIS IS THE WORK OF A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION COMMITTEE SET UP IN THE DISTRICT TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM, MR. WILLIAMS SAID, AND POINTED OUT THAT SIMILAR PROJECTS ARE BEING CARRIED OUT IN ALL THE OTHER DISTRICTS IN HONG KONG.
HE ADDED THAT THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE DROP-OUTS WAS BY NO MEANS AN EASY TASK. +FOR VARIOUS REASONS, RANGING FROM DISILLUSIONMENT, TO RELUCTANCE, MANY OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE CAND THEIR PARENTS) DO NOT RESPOND READILY TO APPEALS.+
BUT ACTIVE STEPS ARE NOW BEING TAKEN TO IDENTIFY THEM THROUGH THE HELP OF PRIMARY SCHOOL HEADMASTERS, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND LOCAL LEADERS ON THE AREA COM11TTEES, HUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND KAIFONGS.
MR. WILLIAMS WAS REPLYING AT THE TIME TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, WHO, HE SURHISED, HAD SINGLED OUT WONG TAI SIN IN HIS QUERY BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED DISTRICTS.
BUT IN FACT, MR. WILLIAMS SAID, +THE PROBLEM OF THE 12 AND 13 YEAR OLDS NOT AT WORK AND NOT AT SCHOOL EXISTS IN VARYING DEGREES IN ALL OUR DISTRICTS.+
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THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE ON SERVICES FOR YOUTH, CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, IS ALSO DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM; AND HAD DECIDED ON A NUMBER OF MEASURES WHICH WOULD ALSO HELP THE DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES IN THEIR PLANNING.
+THE ONLY SATISFACTORY SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IN THE LONGER TERM,+ MR. WILLIAMS SAID, +IS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL PLACES FOR ALL OF THE CHILDREN CONCERNED.+
BUT, HE SAID, IN THE MEANWHILE THE VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMES WILL BE PURSUED, AND PROGRESS REPORTS MAY BE AVAILABLE FROM ALL THE DISTRICTS BY AUTUMN THIS YEAR.
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