SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1980
ACTING GOVERNOR OPENS TRAINING CENTRE FOR THE HANDICAPPED ******
THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR JACK CATER SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES HAS, IN RECENT YEARS, BEEN ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
HE SAID MUCH OF THE WORK IN THIS FIELD HAS ALWAYS BEEN, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE, DEPENDENT ON THE INDISPENSIBLE CONTRIBUTION AND CO-OPERATION OF ENTHUSIASTIC AND DEVOTED VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
SIR JACK WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE SALVATION ARMY'S LAI KING RESIDENTIAL TRAINING CENTRE AND SPECIAL SCHOOL.
THE $9 MILLION TRAINING CENTRE WHICH CONTAINS A SWIMMING POOL, CLASSROOMS, WORKSHOPS AND RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES IS PURPOSE-BUILT FOR THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF MENTALLY HANDICAPPED YOUNG PEOPLE.
FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF SIR JACK CATER'S SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW LAI KING TRAINING CENTRE.
+ IT IS VERY GOOD TO BE WITH YOU ALL THIS MORNING ON THIS IMPORTANT OCCASION - IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR THE SALVATION ARMY IN HONG KONG, BUT PARTICULARLY FOR SOME OF HONG KONG'S SPECIAL CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE. THIS OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SALVATION ARMY LAI KING RESIDENTIAL TRAINING CENTRE AND SPECIAL SCHOOL MARKS ANOTHER STEP FORWARD IN THE PROVISION OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.
+THE CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPPING OF THIS NEW HOME (WHICH HAS COST ALMOST HK$9 MILLION) HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GRANT OF NEARLY $5 MILLION FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND- A GENEROUS DONATION FROM THE BRADBURY CHARITABLE TRUST FUND- AND ALSO FROM THE SIR ROBERT HO TUNG CHARITABLE FUND, AS WELL THERE HAVE BEEN ADDED THE MONIES RAISED BY THE SPONSORING BODY ITSELF FROM OTHER GENEROUS DONORS. LAI KING REPLACES AND UPDATES, AS WELL AS EXPANDS, THE FACILITIES PROVIDED BY THE SALVATION ARMY FOR 12 YEARS AT THE HOME ON CHEUNG CHAU PEAK: IT IS PURPOSE-BUILT TO OFFER A GOOD ENVIRONMENT AND MODERN FACILITIES FOR THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF 126 MODERATELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED YOUNG PEOPLE 50 OF THEM BEING CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6 TO 16 AND OTHER 76 BEING YOUNG ADULTS UP TO THE AGE OF 30. AS IT IS FULLY EQUIPPED WITH A SWIMMING POOL (FOR THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES)- WITH CLASSROOMS, WORKSHOPS RESIDENTIAL - AND ACCESS - FACILITIES, THE STUDENTS HERE ARE ASSURED OF A TRAINING WHICH WILL EMPHASISE THEIR ABILITIES, AND MINIMISE THEIR DISABILITIES. THE IMPORTANCE OF EXTRA- CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES HAS NOT BEEN OVERLOOKED AND OUTINGS OF MANY KINDS ARE ARRANGED FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHICH INCLUDE PICNICS, GAMES DAYS, CAMPS AND VISITS.
+THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES HAS IN RECENT YEARS, BEEN ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. MUCH OF THE WORK IN THIS FIELD HAS ALWAYS BEEN, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE, DEPENDENT ON THE INDISPENSIBLE CONTRIBUTION AND CO-OPERATION OF ENTHUSIASTIC AND DEVOTED VOLUNTARY AGENCIES LIKE THE SALVATION ARMY.
/+THE SALVATION