THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1980
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ANOTHER SURVEY UNDERTAKEN BY A GROUP OF CHINESE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN 1978 REVEALED THAT ABOUT 40 PER CENT OF THE 10 000 PEOPLE WHO WERE LIVING IN BOARDING HOUSES WERE AGED OVER 60.
THE LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE BOARDING HOUSES WERE APPALLING OVERCROWDED, UNVENTILATED, SQUALID AND DARK.
DR HO PROPOSED THE FOLLOWING STEPS TO TACKLE THE SITUATION:
* HIGH PRIORITY OF PUBLIC HOUSING PROVISION SHOULD BE ASSIGNED ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS TO SINGLE SENIOR CITIZENS AND THE 5 000 PLACES PROMISED FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN A SHORTER PERIOD,
* A PORTION OF THE PLACES IN THE TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS AND
IN THE MARKS I AND II ESTATES SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR ALLOCATION TO NEEDY, SINGLE ELDERLY APPLICANTS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING,
* SUBVENTION TO SUCH WELFARE ORGANISATIONS AS HELPING HAND AND SALVATION ARMY SHOULD BE INCREASED TO ENABLE THEM TO PROVIDE MORE ACCOMMODATION,
* THE RENT ALLOWANCE UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME SHOULD
BE REALISTICALLY ADJUSTED TO KEEP IN LINE WITH MARKET RENTS, AND
* THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE SHOULD BE
STRICTLY ENFORCED SO THAT BOARDING HOUSES ARE REQUIRED TO OBSERVE REGULATIONS RELATING TO OVERCROWDING, FIRE HAZARDS, SANITATION AND HEAT.
ON JUVENILE CRIME, DR HO STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF A CLOSE FAMILY RELATIONSHIP AND GOOD PUPIL-TEACHER RELATIONS SO THAT A POTENTIAL JUVENILE OFFENDER CAN BE QUICKLY RECOGNISED AND HELPED BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.
HE NOTED THAT 95 PER CENT OF THE 900 YOUNGSTERS CHARGED IN MAY 1980 FOR CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT WERE BORN AND BRED IN HONG KONG.
THIS, HE SAID, SUGGESTED THAT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE YOUNG OFFENDERS ARE THE GENUINE PRODUCTS OF OUR OWN MAKING+.
HIS PERSONAL ASSOCIATION WITH THE WELFARE ORGANISATIONS SERVING CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN SEVEN AND 15 LEADS HIM TO BELIEVE THAT THE WEAKENING OF THE FAMILY SYSTEM AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIP IS ONE OF THE CARDINAL DETERMINANTS OF JUVENILE CRIME.
+WE MUST ACCEPT THAT MOTHERS ARE INCREASINGLY GOING OUT TO WORK AND RELYING ON OTHER PEOPLE TO BRING UP THEIR CHILDREN.
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