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SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 1981
'SUPPORT PROBATION WORK,'
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PUBLIC URGED
A SENIOR SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL TODAY (SUNDAY) APPEALED TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NOT TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PEOPLE PUT ON PROBATION.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (OPERATIONS), MRS EVELYN DOE, SAID THE COMMUNITY SHOULD ACTIVELY SUPPORT PROBATION WORK BY JOINING AS VOLUNTEERS TO HELP.
MRS DOE WAS SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY IN WHICH SHE PRESENTED CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION TO 28 PUBLIC-SPIRITED CITIZENS WHO HAD HELPED REFORM YOUNG OFFENDERS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT'S VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS.
SHE SAID HONG KONG BEING A HIGHLY COMMERCIALISED CITY, IT WAS EASY FOR PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY TEENAGERS, TO BE LED ASTRAY BY MATERIAL TEMPTATIONS IF THEY HAD FAMILY HARDSHIP, ACADEMIC DIFFICULTIES, BAD FRIENDS AND NO PARENTAL CARE.
FOR THESE PEOPLE, SHE SAID, SYMPATHY, GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE WOULD BE THE BEST WAY OF SOCIAL REHABILITATION.
+ INDEED, THE SPIRIT OF PROBATION WORK IS TO ENCOURAGE AND HELP THEM TO BECOME GOOD CITIZENS THROUGH FRIENDLY ATTITUDES AND VARIOUS PROBATION SERVICES, SHE SAID.
PROBATION WORK COULD ACHIEVE BETTER RESULTS IF, DURING ITS PROCESS, THERE WERE VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE ASSISTANCE ACCORDING TO THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF PROBATIONERS, SHE ADDED.
MRS DOE POINTED OUT IT WAS EVIDENT FROM MANY PREVIOUS CASES THAT THE EFFORTS OF VOLUNTEERS COULD PRODUCE POSITIVE RESULTS OF PUTTING PROBATIONERS BACK ONTO THE RIGHT TRACK.
+THERE ARE TOUCHING EXAMPLES WHERE PROBATIONERS WERE ABLE TO GRADUALLY REGAIN CONFIDENCE AND LEAD A NORMAL AND LAW-ABIDING LIFE AGAIN UNDER THE GUIDANCE AND HELP OF PROBATION OFFICERS AND VOLUNTEERS, SHE SAID.
MRS DOE THANKED THE 28 VOLUNTEERS FOR GIVING UP THEIR FREE TIME TO HELP AND SHE DESCRIBED THEIR EFFORTS AS +MOST VALUABLE+ NOT ONLY TO THE PROBATIONERS THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY WAS FOLLOWED BY A SEMINAR IN WHICH PROBATION OFFICERS AND VOLUNTEERS EXCHANGED IDEAS. IT STARTED OFF WITH A TALK BY DR HO KAM-FAI, AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
+
UNDER THE VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS INTRODUCED IN 1976 AS A COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECT, VOLUNTEERS BEFRIEND BOYS AND GIRLS PUT ON PROBATION AND HELP THEM WITHIN THEIR AREAS OF PERSONAL INTERESTS AND ABILITY.
/ALTOGETHER 89