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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1977
4. ANCILLARY PROVISIONS
IN ADDITION TO THE DIRECT SOCIAL WORK SERVICES, OTHER MEASURES SHOULD BE RECOMMENDED INCLUDING THE CONTROL OF TRIADS AND THE IR INFLUENCES, THE MOBILISING OF VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST PROBLEM YOUTHS AND THE EXPANSION OF STUDY ROOM FACILITIES IN THE MORE CROWDED AREAS.
COMMENTING ON THE GREEN PAPER, MISS ANNIE CHAN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, SAID THAT THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF PERSONAL SOCIAL WORK AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IS TO REDUCE OR PREVENT ANTI-SOCIAL OR DELINQUENT BEHAVIOUR OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
+MEETING THIS OBJECTIVE ENTAILS IDENTIFYING YOUNG PEOPLE AT RISK, ASSESSING THE IR NEEDS AND MEETING THEM AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE TO INTEGRATE THEM INTO NORMAL SOCIAL GROUP ACTIVITIES. IT IS ALSO NECESSARY TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES TO UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THE PROPER ROLE THEY SHOULD PLAY AT HOME AND THE SOCIETY AND TO MONITOR THE EFFECT OF PERSONAL SOCIAL WORK GENERALLY.+
MISS CHAN NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO PRECISE INDICATORS OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PERIOD IN YOUTH. AN AGE RANGE OF 6 - 20 WAS CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE SINCE CHILDREN UNDER SIX WERE GENERALLY LIVING IN A PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT WHILE THOSE OVER 20 YEARS OF AGE WERE MORE MATURE AND EMOTIONALLY STABLE.
+MUCH EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT IN PROVIDING AND EXPANDING RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
+ IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE AGE RANGE OF 6 - 20 ARE TAKING PART IN SOME FORM OF ORGANISED YOUTH OR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND IT IS HOPED TO INCREASE THIS PROPORTION IN FUTURE. COUPLED WITH THIS AND AT A MORE PRIMARY LEVEL, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO STEPPED UP EFFORTS IN PROVIDING THE BASIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES.+
DESPITE ALL THESE, MISS CHAN CONTINUED, THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE A PROPORTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHOSE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND PROBLEMS COULD NOT, FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, BE FULLY MET BY THE CASIC SERVICES. THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD REQUIRE PERSONAL SOCIAL WORK WHICH AIMS TO PROVIDE TIMELY GUIDANCE AND HELP SPECIFICALLY TO THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS OF VARIOUS KINDS IN THEIR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TO REDUCE THEIR CHANCE OF TURNING DEL INQUENT.
THE PROPOSALS IN THE GREEK PAPER, IF APPROVED, WILL REQUIRE AN ESTIMATED TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF $20.2 PILLION FOR 1978/79, RISING TO #30.5 MILLION IN 1982/83.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO COMMENT ARE ASKED TO 30 30 BEFORE THE END OF JANUARY KEXT YEAR. COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO: THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.
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