SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1981
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SCOUTS CRUCIAL ROLE STRESSED BY GOVERNOR
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HONG KONG'S SCOUTS HAVE A CRUCIAL ROLE+ TO PLAY IN THE COMMUNITIES, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID AT THE ST. GEORGE'S DAY RALLY HELD THIS AFTERNOON (SATURDAY) AT THE DIOCESAN BOYS' SCHOOL.
SPEAKING AS THE PATRON AND CHIEF SCOUT ON THE 70TH YEAR OF THE SCOUTS ASSOCIATION'S +SERVICES TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, SIR MURRAY SAID THE SCOUTS COULD PARTICULARLY HELP TO COUNTER THE UNSETTLING EFFECT OF THE RAPID CHANGES TAKING PLACE IN HONG KONG BY PROVIDING NEW TIES AND ASSOCIATIONS, NEW FRIENDS AND AN OUTLET FOR YOUTHFUL ENERGY AND INTEREST.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH $
FELLOW SCOUTS AND GUESTS,
THIS YEAR YOUR ASSOCIATION COMMEMORATES THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS SERVICE TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, A RECORD OF WHICH YOU CAN BE JUSTLY PROUD.
YOUR OFFICIALS ARE NOW PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES TO THE +BLUEPRINT FOR THE 80S+, TO GUIDE THE ASSOCIATION THROUGH THIS DECADE. IT ENVISAGES GREATER INVOLVEMENT BY SCOUTING IN COMMUNITY BUILDING, SOME EXPERIMENTAL SCHEMES WILL BE RUN OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS IN THE NEW TOWNS AND IN THE HOUSING ESTATES IN THE URBAN AREAS. IF SUCCESSFUL, THEY WILL BE EXTENDED TO ACHIEVE A CLOSER ASSOCIATION OF THE SCOUTING MOVEMENT WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
THE SCOUTS HAVE A CRUCIAL ROLE TO PLAY IN OUR COMMUNITIES. PARTICULARLY THEY CAN HELP TO COUNTER THE UNSETTLING EFFECT OF THE RAPID CHANGES TAKING PLACE IN HONG KONG BY PROVIDING NEW TIES AND ASSOCIATIONS, NEW FRIENDS, AND AN OUTLET FOR YOUTHFUL ENERGY AND INTEREST. I THEREFORE WISH YOU EVERY SUCCESS IN YOUR NEW ENDEAVOURS.
THE ASSOCIATION IS ALSO LOOKING AHEAD TO THE COMING YEAR, WHEN THE WORLD MOVEMENT WILL BE CELEBRATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF SCOUTING. IT IS PROPOSED THAT SPECIAL EVENTS BE ORGANISED TO COMMEMORATE THE GENIUS AND FORESIGHT OF YOUR FOUNDER.
AS YOUR PATRON AND CHIEF SCOUT I HAVE WATCHED WITH KEEN INTEREST THE PROGRESS MADE BY SCOUTING OVER THE YEARS. YOU HAVE GONE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH. I HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED BY THE MASSIVE SUPPORT YOU HAVE MANAGED TO CREATE IN SO MANY SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND BY THE STRENUOUS EFFORTS YOU HAVE MADE TO ENSURE THAT SCOUTING REMAINS ATTRACTIVE AND RELEVANT TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. YOUR SERVICES TO YOUTH AND TO SOCIETY ARE APPRECIATED BY ALL. I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COMMEND ALL OF YOU ON YOUR PAST CONTRIBUTION AND TO WISH YOU CONTINUING SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE.