SU,
NOBER 20, 1983
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+ IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN EFFICIENCY, ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR BRIGADE MUST RE-QUALIFY ANNUALLY. BECAUSE OF THIS THE PRESENCE OF
ST. JOHN FIRST AID MEMBERS GIVES AN ASSURANCE OF TRAINED SUPPORT TO THE PUBLIC,+ HE ADDED.
MR BRAY POINTED OUT THAT THE BRIGADE HAD ESTABLISHED A FINE TRADITION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.
+IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN HONG KONG SOME 68 YEARS AGO AND TRAINS MEN, WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE TO UNDERTAKE FIRST AID, AND HOME NURSING, TO BE READY TO RENDER ASSISTANCE AT BEACHES, FOOTBALL MATCHES, ATHLETIC MEETINGS, WALKATHONS AND ALL SORTS OF PUBLIC GATHERINGS IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER,+ HE SAID.
AFTER INSPECTING THE PARADE, MR BRAY PRESENTED LONG SERVICE MEDALS AND TROPHIES TO VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE BRIGADE.
MORE PUBLIC SYMPATHY FOR EX-DRUG ADDICTS URGED
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THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, TODAY (SUNDAY) CALLED FOR MORE PUBLIC SYMPATHY TOWARDS EX-DRUG ADDICTS TO HELP THEM QUIT THE ANTI-SOCIAL AND SELF-DESTRUCTIVE+ HABIT.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CARITAS LOK HEEP CLUB'S NEW HONG KONG CLUBHOUSE IN WAN CHAI, MRS CHAN SAID PUBLICITY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS IN RECENT YEARS HAD INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS IN PREVENTING DRUG ABUSE, PARTICULARLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.
ALTHOUGH HONG KONG HAD SOME SUCCESS IN CONTAINING THE NUMBER OF DRUG ADDICTS, SHE STRESSED THERE COULD BE NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY.
+PREVENTION OF DRUG ABUSE MUST BE THE PARAMOUNT OBJECTIVE OF THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, SHE SAID, ADDING THAT IT WAS ALSO VITAL FOR THE ADDICTED TO SEEK TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION.
+ IT IS IN THIS AREA THAT THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORKERS IS SO IMPORTANT AND WE MUST ENSURE THAT ALL WHO NEED TREATMENT AND AFTERCARE SERVICES ARE AWARE OF HOW TO SEEK HELP AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO DO SO, SHE SAID.
TO ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES, IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT SOCIAL WORKERS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS IN THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WORK CLOSELY IN THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME, SHE SAID.
MRS CHAN ASSURED THE CLUB OF CONTINUING SUPPORT FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE ITS FACILITIES FOR MEMBERS.
SHE SAID A LOTTERIES FUND GRANT OF $181 000 HAD BEEN PROVIDED FOR FITTING OUT AND FURNISHING THE NEW CLUBHOUSE AND THE RECURRENT COST OF ITS OPERATION WAS FULLY MET BY GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION.
THE LOK HEEP CLUB, ESTABLISHED IN 1968, HAS BEEN HELPING EX-DRUG ADDICTS THROUGH COUNSELLING, THERAPEUTIC GROUP WORK AND JOB PLACEMENT.
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