FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1984
GOVERNOR RETURNING FROM LONDON
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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL RETURN FROM LONDON TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AFTER FURTHER CONSULTATION WITH MINISTERS ON THE PROGRESS OF THE TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG..
SIR EDWARD WILL BE ARRIVING ON FLIGHT BR 382, ETA 6.20 PM,
TATTOO BILL SEEKS TO PROTECT YOUTHS
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IT WILL BE AN OFFENCE TO TATTOO A PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 18, UNDER PROPOSED LEGISLATION PUBLISHED TODAY.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE LEGAL SANCTION WAS TO PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE AGAINST MAKING AN IRREVERSIBLE DECISION THAT MIGHT RESULT IN THEM CARRYING A SOCIAL STIGMA FOR LIFE.
HE ISSUED A WARNING TO THOSE WHO MIGHT STILL TRY TO TATTOO THEMSELVES OR PERSUADE FRIENDS TO TATTOO THEM, IF THE BILL IS PASSED INTO LAW.
+THIS WOULD BE A VERY FOOLISH THING TO DO BECAUSE TATTOOS DONE UNPROFESSIONALLY CAN CAUSE A NUMBER OF DISEASES, INCLUDING SKIN INFECTIONS AND SERUM HEPATITIS,+ HE SAID.
A SURVEY OF SOME 400 BOYS AND GIRLS RESIDING IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE SHOWED THAT NEARLY 40 PER CENT OF THEM HAD TATTOOS, WHICH WERE DONE ON AVERAGE WHEN THEY WERE AGED 13 AND 14.
ANOTHER SURVEY OF OVER 1 600 YOUNG OFFENDERS IN CORRECTIONAL SERVICES INSTITUTIONS SHOWED A SIMILAR PERCENTAGE OF PERSONS WITH TATTOOS. IN NEARLY NINE OUT OF TEN CASES (87.5 PER CENT) THE TATTOOS WERE DONE WHEN THEY WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 18.
+THESE SURVEYS AND THE EXPERIENCE OF MAGISTRATES CLEARLY
THE INDICATE A TENDENCY FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS TO BE TATTOOED. ASSOCIATION BETWEEN TATTOOS AND YOUNG PERSONS WITH CRIMINAL OR ANTI-SOCIAL TENDENCIES MAKES THE REHABILITATION OF SUCH YOUTHS MORE DIFFICULT IN THAT TATTOOS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE, EVEN WITH THE LATEST LASER TECHNIQUES. THEY MAY THEREFORE HAVE TO BEAR THE CONSEQUENCE OF AN IMPULSIVE DECISION FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE TATTOOING