WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1981
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CONCERN OVER JUVENILE CRIME
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THE CONTINUED INCREASE IN JUVENILE CRIME MUST BE ARRESTED BEFORE IT GETS OUT OF HAND, SAID DR THE HON HENRY HU.
SPEAKING AT THE POLICY DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DR HU NOTED THAT POSITIVE ACTIONS WERE BEING TAKEN.
THESE INCLUDED MEASURES TO IMPROVE REMEDIAL TEACHING, COUNSELLING AND SOCIAL WORK SERVICES IN SCHOOLS, TO ADAPT THE CURRICULA TO LESS ACADEMICALLY MINDED PUPILS, AND TO ENABLE THE POLICE TO MAKE A GREATER DIRECT CONTRIBUTION THROUGH THE JUNIOR POLICE CALL.
+THESE ARE VERY WORTHWHILE EFFORTS, HE SAID, BUT THEY WILL NOT BE TRULY EFFECTIVE WITHOUT THE WHOLE-HEARTED CO-OPERATION OF THE PARENTS WHO MUST SHOULDER THE FINAL RESPONSIBILITY IN SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE TO THE IR CHILDREN AND IN INSTILLING IN THEM THE RIGHT VALUES AS RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY.
+ THE PARENTS SHOULD TEACH THEIR CHILDREN, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SELF-RESPECT AND DISCIPLINE.
+MENTION OF THE WORD 'DISCIPLINE' PERHAPS CONJURES UP IN THE MIND SOMETHING TO BE AFRAID OF, BUT ALL IT REALLY MEANS IS COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND ORDERS WHICH PROTECT OUR PERSONS, OUR HOMES AND OUR SURROUNDINGS, AND IF THEY ARE OBEYED, WE ALL BENEFIT FROM THEM. +
HOWEVER, DR HU THOUGHT THAT JUVENILE DELINQUENTS SHOULD NOT BE +MIXED+ WITH THE NON-DEL INQUENTS IN THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
THERE SHOULD BE SEPARATE INSTITUTIONS FOR THOSE YOUNG OFFENDERS PLACED ON PROBATION ORDERS, THOSE ON REMAND CASES AND THOSE NON- DELINQUENTS WHO WERE IN NEED OF CARE AND PROCTECTION, HE SAID.
HE SUPPORTED THE SUGGESTIONS PUT FORWARD BY THE HON JOYCE M BENNETT AND HER AD HOC GROUP ON THE OPERATION OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR JUVENILES.
DR HU ALSO SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE TEN-YEAR ASSIGNMENT RESTRICTION ON THE +NEW DEAL+ HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME UNITS IN WHICH THE LAND VALUE WOULD BE DISCOUNTED FROM THE PRICE OF SUCH UNITS,
+ IT WOULD NOT ONLY FOSTER AND STRENGTHEN A SENSE OF BELONGING AMONG THE LOWER INCOME OWNERS, THUS FUNCTIONING AS A STRONG SOCIAL STABILISER, BUT ALSO ACT AS AN INDIRECT AND GRADUAL ECONOMIC STABILISING FORCE, HE SAID.
+THIS WOULD BE SO BECAUSE AS MORE AND MORE SUCH H.O.S. FLATS COME ONTO STREAM, THE HYPER-PROF ITS NOW REAPED BY THE PROPERTY DEVELOPERS AND SPECULATORS WOULD DROP, ACCOMPANIED BY A STEADY EASING OF DOMESTIC RENTS FOR THIS INCOME BRACKET.
+THIS WOULD RESULT IN THE RE-CHANNELL ING AT LEAST IN PART - OF TALENTS AND CAPITAL BACK TO THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR, THUS REDUCING THE MAIN IMBALANCE IN OUR ECONOMY, HE SAID.
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