THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1980
GOVERNOR OPENS SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED
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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) HE WAS ACUTELY AWARE OF THE MISERY WHICH UNTREATED MENTAL DEFECTS IN CHILDREN COULD CAUSE.
AT THE OPENING OF THE PINEHILL VILLAGE NO. 3 SCHOOL IN TAI PO, SPONSORED BY THE ASSOCIATION FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS, SIR MURRAY SAID HE WAS EQUALLY AWARE OF THE PLEASURE AND RELIEF TO CHILDREN, PARENTS AND FAMILY ALIKE WHICH RESULTED FROM THE IR REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY.
THIS, HE SAID, COULD ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY PROPER CARE AT THE PROPER TIME.
IT IS OUR DUTY, BETWEEN US ALL, TO PROVIDE SUCH CARE AS SOON AS WE REASONABLY CAN. BUT TO BE EFFECTIVE THE CARE MUST BE EXTREMELY GOOD, HE SAID.
IN PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE ASSOCIATION, SIR MURRAY SAID: +TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR OVER 1 000 YOUNG PEOPLE IN 11 SCHOOLS AND CENTRES IS A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT FOR WHICH I OFFER THE GRATEFUL THANKS OF HONG KONG.+
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH:
+1 AM VERY HAPPY TO OPEN THIS FURTHER SCHOOL AT PINEHILL VILLAGE.
+BUT FIRST I SHOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE ASSOCIATION FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ON ITS EXCELLENT AND COMPREHENSIVE WORK IN CARING FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED. TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR OVER 1 000 YOUNG PEOPLE IN 11 SCHOOLS AND CENTRES IS A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT FOR WHICH I OFFER THE GRATEFUL THANKS OF HONG KONG.
+MANY PEOPLE HAVE PLAYED A PART IN THIS ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS, STAFF, DONORS, CIVIL SERVANTS- BUT I AM SURE THAT ALL WOULD AGREE IF I PARTICULARLY THANKED MRS BREMRIDGE WHO HAS CHAIRED THE ASSOCIATION WITH SUCH DEDICATION FOR SEVEN YEARS. DURING THIS TIME IT HAS MADE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE RIGHTING OF A SOCIAL DEFECT IN OUR SOCIETY.
+THERE IS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO. I AM SURE THAT THE PROGRESSIVE CONCENTRATION OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION IN A SINGLE DEPARTMENT - THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL HELP ADMINISTRATIVELY,
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+MOREOVER THE CHANGE EMPHASISES THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF EDUCATING THE HANDICAPPED IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS OF EDUCATING OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE, NAMELY PREPARATION FOR A NORMAL SELF- SUPPORTING LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY.
/+THE WHITE