THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1981
.ECURITY SECRETARY VISITS YOUTHS IN SUMMER TRAINING
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THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY MR JOHN HEYWOOD, TODAY (THURSDAY) PAID A FRIENDLY CALL ON 30 YOUNG PEOPLE UNDERTAKING A SUMMER TRAINING COURSE AT THE SZE LOK YUEN YOUTH HOSTEL ON TAI MO SHAN.
THE FIVE-DAY COURSE, AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE GOLD AWARD TRAINING PROGRAMME OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S AWARD SCHEME, IS ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. AS A SUMMER YOUTH ACTIVITY, IT IS PARTLY SPONSORED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.
ACCOMPANIED BY MRS CHIU SHUM SHUK-HAAN, PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, MR HEYWOOD ARRIVED BY HELICOPTER AT THE HOSTEL WHERE HE WAS MET BY MR DAVID KAN, INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS (PHYSICAL EDUCATION) AND HOSTEL OFFICIALS.
HE WAS BRIEFED ON THE COURSE, WHICH AIMS AT DEVELOPING THE MATURITY AND SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND BROADENING THE IR INTERESTS AND EXPERIENCE THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME OF EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND VOLUNTARY SERVICES.
AT THE HOSTEL, MR HEYWOOD SAW PARTICIPANTS BUSILY AT WORK WEEDING THE SURROUNDING UNDERGROWTH AND SETTING UP SIGNPOSTS. OTHER PARTICIPANTS WERE ENGAGED IN A RESIDENTIAL PROJECT TO TRANSFORM A BARREN PIECE OF GROUND INTO A PLAY AREA.
MR HEYWOOD SAID THAT HE WAS IMPRESSED WITH PUBLIC-SPIRITEDNESS AND THE ENTHUSIASM DISPLAYED BY THE COURSE PARTICIPANTS, AND GAVE A HELPING HAND AS HE PASSED AMONG THEM.
THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S AWARD SCHEME WAS INITIATED BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE PHILIP IN 1956. THE SCHEME WHICH IS FOR ALL PEOPLE BETWEEN 14 AND 25, OFFERS A CHALLENGE TO ENDEAVOUR AND ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH A BALANCED PROGRAMME OF LEISURE ACTIVITIES AND TRAINING.
SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION IN HONG KONG IN 1968, THE SCHEME HAS DEVELOPED RAPIDLY. AT PRESENT, THERE ARE 21 LOCAL OPERATING AUTHORITIES SERVING AS CHANNELS FOR PROMOTING THE SCHEME. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OPERATING AUTHORITY ALONE HAS 18 620 MEMBERS FROM 115 SCHOOLS OPERATING AS USER UNITS.
THERE ARE THREE AWARDS IN THE SCHEME - BRONZE FOR THOSE OVER 14, SILVER FOR THOSE OVER 15 AND GOLD FOR THOSE OVER 16.
TO QUALIFY FOR AN AWARD, A YOUNG PERSON MUST SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS: SERVICE, EXPEDITIONS, SKILLS AND PHYSICAL RECREATION.
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