MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1978
LADY MACLEHOSE OPENS NEW MA TAU WEI GIRLS' HOME
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LADY MACLEHOSE TODAY OFFICIALLY OPENED THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S NEW MA TAU WEI GIRLS' HOME WHICH SHE SAID WAS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GROWING AWARENESS OF THE NEEDS OF THE . COMMUNITY.
ADDRESSING THE GATHERING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, LADY MACLEHOSE SAID THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS OF ANY REHABILITATION PROGRAMME DEPENDED UPON THE RE-INTEGRATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL INTO THE COMMUNITY.
TO THIS END, SHE ADDED, PROBATION OFFICERS AND SOCIAL CASE WORKERS WERE READILY AVAILABLE.
+HOWEVER, TO ENSURE COMPLETE SUCCESS OVER THIS DIFFICULT TRANSITORY PERIOD, IT IS UP TO US ALL TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY ENCOURAGEMENT AND SO INSTIL RENEWED CONFIDENCE, TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF LIFE AHEAD, SHE SAID.
THE NEW HOME OFFERS A MODERN COMPLEX OF BUILDINGS WITH SPACIOUS AND EXTENSIVE FACILITIES A FAR CRY FROM THE ORIGINAL HOME BUILT IN 1954.
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+FACILITIES ALONE ARE NOT ENOUGH, + LADY MACLEHOSE SAID. +THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, YOUTH PROGRAMMES ARE BEING ORGANISED TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.+
+SUCH SCHEMES ARE RELIANT UPON THE SPECIALIST SKILLS OF SOCIAL WORKERS, YOUTH LEADERS AND ON THE SUPPORT AND INTEREST OF PEOPLE SUCH AS YOURSELVES, SHE TOLD THE GATHERING.
LADY MACLEHOSE SAID THAT AT THE NEW GIRLS' HOME, THE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS WERE OF THE HIGHEST CALIBRE AND IT REQUIRED A HIGH SENSE OF DEDICATION TO SOLVE THE DIFFICULT PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS OF SOME OF THE GIRLS.
+ SHOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE STAFF OF THE HOME FOR THEIR PATIENCE AND HARD WORK, + SHE SAID.
THE $4 MILLION PURPOSE-BUILT GIRLS' HOME REPLACES THE OLD ONE IN TO KWA WAN WHICH COULD NOT ADEQUATELY COPE WITH THE GROWING NUMBER OF ADMISSION.
EARLIER IN HIS WELCOMING ADDRESS, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, SAID THE GIRLS ADMITTED WERE EITHER ON REMAND ON PROBATION OR IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION FROM PHYSICAL OR MORAL DANGER.
HE SAID...............