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FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1979
SIR JACK PAYS TRIBUTE TO CARE
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THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR JACK CATER, TODAY (FRIDAY) PAID TRIBUTE TO A WORLD-WIDE NON-PROFIT-MAKING PRIVATE ORGANISATION FOR ITS ASSISTANCE AND CONCERN TOWARDS HONG KONG PEOPLE OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS.
SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON GIVEN BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, TO OFFICIALS OF THE CO-OPERATIVE FOR AMERICAN RELIEF EVERYWHERE (CARE) WHICH IS CLOSING DOWN ITS OPERATION HERE, SIR JACK SAID THAT DURING THIS PERIOD, THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG HAD BENEFITED ENORMOUSLY FROM THE MANY RELIEF PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE ORGANISATION, RANGING FROM +TIMELY RELIEF TO MORE VISIONARY UNDERTAKINGS CONDUCIVE TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SELF-HELP.+
*THE TOTAL VALUE CERTAINLY RUNS INTO TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE YEARS: IT WOULD BE AN EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE FIGURE WERE WE TO COST OUT THESE CONTRIBUTIONS AT PRESENT DAY PRICES, SIR JACK SAID.
HE RECALLED THAT CARE'S ACTIVITIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG INCLUDED THE SUPPLY OF BASIC PROVISIONS TO THOSE WHO FLOODED
INTO HONG KONG IN THE 1950S, THE PROVISION OF RICE, BLANKETS, BEDS AND BASIC EQUIPMENT TO THE NEEDY, WELFARE INSTITUTIONS AND HOMELESS PEOPLE, A REVOLVING LOAD FUND SCHEME FOR PRODUCTIVE PURPOSES AND DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS AND FISHERMEN'S VILLAGES WHICH HAVE NOW BECOME THRIVING SETTLEMENTS.
IN MORE RECENT YEARS, SIR JACK NOTED, CARE HAD DEVOTED ITS RESOURCES LARGELY TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF LOCAL PEOPLE THROUGH DONATIONS TOWARDS VARIOUS BUILDING PROJECTS EITHER WHOLLY OR IN PART.
+THESE INCLUDE COMMUNITY CENTRES, RECREATIONAL CENTRES, PLAYGROUNDS, DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, SEAWALLS, ROADS AND FOOTPATHS WHICH WILL REMAIN VALUABLE COMMUNITY ASSETS IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
+IN MY HIGHLIGHTING OF SOME OF CARE'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO HONG KONG, I HAVE GIVEN SOME IDEA OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BENEFITED BY THE MORE THAN 200 PROJECTS BROUGHT TO FRUITION.
*I AM THEREFORE VERY DELIGHTED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG THAT WE ARE
INDEED MOST GRATEFUL, HE ADDED.
AMONG CARE OFFICIALS WHO ATTENDED THE LUNCHEON TODAY WERE MR. EDWIN WESELY, CHAIRMAN OF CARE, MR. MERTON CREGGER, DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CARE AND MR. WILLIAM SALAS, THE HONG KONG DIRECTOR.
OTHER GUESTS INCLUDED THE COMMISSIONER FOR CANADA, MR. W.T. WALDEN, THE ACTING CONSUL-GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, MR. N. BELLOCHI, SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM LOCAL SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANISATIONS WHICH HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH CARE IN THE PAST YEARS.
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