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THURSDAY, JULY 6, 1978
YUEN LONG'S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME LAUNCHED
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YUEN LONG'S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME GOT OFF TO A FLYING START TODAY (THURSDAY) WHEN MEMBERS OF THE WORLD FAMOUS +RED DEVILS+ PARACHUTE TEAM DELIGHTED MORE THAN 4,000 LOCAL STUDENTS WITH THEIR BREATH-TAKING DEMONSTRATION.
THE PARACHUTE DEMONSTRATION BY THE BRITISH FORCES WAS ONE OF THE MANY COLOURFUL PERFORMANCES AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY HELD AT THE YUEN LONG STADIUM.
OTHER PERFORMANCES INCLUDED BRASS BAND MUSIC. GYMNASTIC DISPLAY, SONGS AND DANCES, GAMES COMPETITION AND WORDPLAY BY 1,000 STUDENTS.
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. JOHN TODD, OFFICIATED AT THE CEREMONY.
IN HIS ADDRESS, MR. TODD SAID THIS WAS THE TENTH YEAR OF THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMMES WHICH ARE NOW WELL ESTABLISHED THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.
+THEY INVOLVE A GREAT NUMBER OF DIFFERENT BODIES INCLUDING VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES, THE BRITISH FORCES,
THE BRITISH FORCES, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND A VARIETY OF CLUBS, SOCIETIES AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS.
+THIS CONCENTRATION OF RESOURCES ENABLES A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES TO BE PROVIDED WITH THE AIM OF ENCOURAGING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, HELPING THEM TO DEVELOP THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE, SKILLS AND INTERESTS AND FOSTERING A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN DIFFERENT WAYS,+ HE SAID.
MR. TODD ADDED THAT THESE OBJECTIVES CONTINUE TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY IN YUEN LONG AS SHOWN BY THE IMPRESSIVE LIST OF ALMOST TWO HUNDRED DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES WHICH WOULD BE AVAILABLE DURING THE PROGRAMMED PERIOD.
YUEN LONG'S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME INCLUDES ALL FORMS OF SPORTS, CLASSES AND COMPETITION IN MUSIC, DANCING AND ART, CAMPING AND BOATING THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER HOLIDAY.
MR. TODD PRAISED THE CHAIRMAN OF THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT YOUTH RECREATION CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE, MR. TAI KUEN, OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS, LOCAL SCHOOL HEADMASTERS AND RURAL AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN ORGANISING THE PROGRAMME.