WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 1975
MORE CHILDREN'S LIBRARIES NEEDED, SAYS MISS KO
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THE URBAN COUNCIL, SCHOOLS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WERE TODAY URGED TO PROVIDE MORE LIBRARIES OR READING ROOMS TO F ABLE CHILDREN TO PURSUE HEALTHY READING HABITS.
THE CALL CAME FROM THE HON. MISS KO SIU-WAR IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHEN SPEAKING ON THE OBJECTIONABLE PUDLICATIONS BILL WITCH LAY DOWN STRICT NEW PROVISIONS AGAINST ALL FORMS OF PORNOGRAPHY, PARTICULARLY AGAINST SEX-AND-VIOLENCE COMIC BOOKS AIMED AT CHILDREN.
MISS KO EXPRESSED FULL SUPPORT FOR THE BILL, WHICH CARRIES MAXIMUM FINES OF $100,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE YEARS, AND HOPED THAT THE PROVISIONS WOULD BE CARRIED OUT WITHOUT DELAY AS 500M AS THE BILL DECAME LAW.
HOWEVER WHILE SHE REGARDED DETERRENT LEGISLATION AS IMPORTANT, SHE FELT THAT POSITIVE MEASURES' WERE EQUALLY VITAL.
*I AM SURE NO ONE WOULD DISAGREE THAT MORE LIBRARIES, PECIALLY CHILDREN'S LIDRARIES, ARE NEEDED IF GOOD READING MATAL IS TO BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN, SHE SAID. URG THE URBAN COUNCIL AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS NOT TO CVELL COK +THIS VERY IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT.+
MISS KO SAID SHE HAD BEEN INFORMED THAT MANY PRIMARY SCHOOLS DID NOT HAVE LIBRARIES OR READING ROOMS AND SHE CALLED ON THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION TO LOOK INTO THIS TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE TO RECTIFY THIS DEFICIENCY. IN THE SHORT TERM, SHE SUGGESTED, READING SPACE OR ROTATING DISPLAYS OF READING MATERIAL COULD BE PROVIDED IN CLASSROOMS.
+IT WOULD ALSO DE A GREAT HELP IF PARENTS, TEACHERS AND SOCIAL WELFARE WORKERS WHO WORK WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH WOULD PAY MORE ATTENTION TO WHAT PUBLICATIONS THE CHILDREN ARE BEING EXPOSED TO AND GIVE THEM SOME GUIDANCE,+. SHE ADDED.
IN ADDITION, MISS KO SAID, WAYS SHOULD BE EXPLORED TO ENCOURAGE THOSE IN THE LITERARY FIELD TO PRODUCE_MORE ATTRACTIVE, HEALTHY AND INEXPENSIVE PUBLICATIONS ESPECIALLY THOSE AIMED AT CHILDREN. +1 EARNESTLY HOPE THAT THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. WORKING CLOSELY WITH PUBLISHERS AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO ENCOURAGE THE PRODUCTION OF WHOLESOME READING MATERIAL IN HONG KONG, SHE SAID.
WILL
MISS KO ALSO EMPHASISED THAT MORE AND REGULAR INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION BY POLICE WERE NECESSARY TO EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT THE BILL'S PROVISIONS.
IN THIS REGARD, SHE FELT THAT THE RELEVANT SECTIONS IN THE POLICE FORCE AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE STATUENED AS SHOULD THE NEWSPAPERS AND PUBLICATIONS REGISTRATION 17 OF THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, FOR THE EXAMINATION OF ANY PUBLICATION CONSIDERED TO BE OBSCENE.
/IN MOVING