SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1978
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CALL FOR MORE FRIENDS OF PROBATIONERS
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MR. MAK WING-HONG, HEAD OF THE PROBATION AND CORRECTIONS DIVISION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, TODAY APPEALED TO THE PUBLIC FOR SUPPORT OF THE VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS' A REHABILITATION PROGRAMME RENDERED BY SELECTED VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE PERSONAL HELP AND MORAL SUPPORT FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS.
MR. MAK WAS SPEAKING AT THE PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION TO NINE LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A SIX-MONTH ASSIGNMENT TO AID THE PROBATIONERS.
THE NINE VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE OFFERED COMPANIONSHIP AND OTHER ASSISTANCE TO YOUNG OFFENDERS INCLUDE A POLICEWOMAN, A YOUTH WORKER, A CHINESE HERBALIST, A DRAFTSMAN, A MUSICIAN, A LIBRARIAN AND THREE TEACHERS.
MR. MAK SAID THAT COMMUNITY SUPPORT WAS VITAL IN THE SUCCESSFUL REHABILITATION OF YOUNG OFFENDERS.
+AFTERALL THE REAL AIM OF PROBATION SERVICE IS TO HELP YOUNGSTERS AT VARIANCE WITH THE LAW TO PROGRESS FROM DELINQUENCY TO BECOME LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AGAIN,+ HE SAID.
MR. MAK EXPLAINED THAT A PROBATION OFFICER COULD ONLY PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR THE YOUNG OFFENDERS, CORRECT THEIR DEVIATED CONCEPT, AND HELP THEM TO RECAPTURE SELF-RESPECT AND CONFIDENCE.
+ IF THE OFFENDERS ARE NOT ACCEPTED BY THE COMMUNITY, THEY WILL FEEL BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AND REJECTED, AND THE EFFORTS OF THE PROBATION OFFICERS WILL BECOME FRUITLESS.+
TURNING TO THE NINE VOLUNTEERS AWARDED WITH THE CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION, MR. MAK SAID THAT THEY HAD DEVOTED MUCH OF THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TO THE IR ASSIGNMENT.
+NOT ONLY HAVE THESE VOLUNTEERS DONE VERY WELL IN THEIR ORIENTATION COURSE, BUT ALSO WHEN THEY EMBARKED ON PRACTICAL WORK, THE IR PERFORMANCE HAVE BEEN OUTSTANDING.
+THEY HAVE HELPED MANY PROBATIONERS DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY WITH THEIR PROBLEMS AND THEIR ENTHUSIASM IN SERVING THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN MOST ENCOURAGING.+
THE VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS WHICH STARTED IN 1975 IS A COMPLEMENTARY SERVICE RUN BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO HELP REFORM PROBATIONERS ON A FRIENDSHIP BASIS. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTARY WORKERS HAS INCREASED FROM 25 TO 50.
INITIALLY, THE VOLUNTEERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN AN ORIENTATION COURSE IN WHICH TALKS, GROUP DISCUSSIONS AND OBSERVATION VISITS ARE ARRANGED FOR THEM.
/DURING THE