FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1978
LOCAL YOUTH ARE A HUGE RESERVOIR OF LATENT TALENT
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THE YOUTH OF HONG KONG ARE A HUGE RESERVOIR OF LATENT TALENT, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. E.P. HO, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
MR. HO EMPHASISED THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS POTENTIAL IS UTILISED TO THE FULL AND YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ARE ENCOURAGED AND ASSISTED TO DEVELOP INTO MATURE, RESPONSIBLE AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 13TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE HONG KONG JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT THE ARTS CENTRE, HE SAID IN RECENT YEARS THE GOVERNMENT HAD STEPPED UP EFFORTS IN IMPROVING THE BASIC SERVICES, FACILITIES AND THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENT IN ORDER TO RAISE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG.
FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT'S HOUSING AND NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENTS WERE SURGING AHEAD. THERE HAD BEEN A RAPID EXPANSION OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES. HAD BECOME FREE AND UNIVERSAL SINCE 1971 AND AS FROM THREE WEEKS
PRIMARY EDUCATION AGO EVERY PRIMARY SCHOOL LEAVER COULD ENJOY THREE YEARS OF FREE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION.
MR. HO ADDED : +PLANS ARE IN HAND TO FURTHER EXPAND SENIOR SECONDARY, TECHNICAL AND HIGHER EDUCATION. WHEN THESE PLANS ARE FINALISED PEOPLE MAY EXPECT
AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM LINKING THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS THROUGH TO THE UNIVERSITIES WITH DIVERSIFIED OPPORTUNITIES IN BETWEEN TO HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT.
+THERE WILL ALSO BE SECOND CHANCES FOR THE MORE MATURE PERSON WHO FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER MISSED OUT ON BASIC OR EVEN HIGHER EDUCATION IN HIS YOUTH.+
MR. HO SAID SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS HAD ALSO BEEN MADE IN MANPOWER TRAINING GEARED TO MEET THE DEVELOPING NEEDS OF HONG KONG'S ECONOMY, IN THE EXPANSION OF EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT SERVICES AND IN IMPROVING WORKERS' WELFARE THROUGH THE ENACTMENT OF LABOUR LEGISLATION.
THERE HAD ALSO BEEN A HUGE EXPANSION OF SOCIAL WELFARE BENEFITS AND SERVICES TO NEEDY PEOPLE OF VARYING AGES. THESE WERE ALL STEPS TOWARDS GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR FULL PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL, AND TOWARDS CREATION OF A FAIRER SOCIETY IN WHICH WE LIVED.
+AT THE SAME TIME A WIDE RANGE OF RECREATIONAL. SPORTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES SPECIALLY OR LARGELY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AT A RAPID PACE BY THE GOVERNMENT IN CO-OPERATION WITH VOLUNTARY AGENCIES,+ MR. HO SAID.
+THESE VARIOUS SERVICES ASSIST IN THE UTILISATION AND ENJOYMENT OF LEISURE WITH THE FURTHER EFFECT OF BROADENING YOUNG PEOPLE'S MINDS, EXPANDING THEIR ENERGIES HEALTHILY AND CONSTRUCTIVELY, AND HELPING THEM GROW UP TO BE GOOD CITIZENS.+
MR. HO SAID