FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1985
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SPECIAL VISITOR FOR SPECIAL EVENT
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THE SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES, MR GRAHAM BARNES, TODAY (FRIDAY) ATTENDED A SPECIAL EVENT IN THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME TO SEE HOW YOUNG PEOPLE SPEND THE IR SUMMER VACATION MEANINGFULLY.
HE VISITED THE WATER CARNIVAL FOR THE SEVERE GRADE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED ORGANISED BY THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH AND THE HONG KONG SPORTS ASSOCIATION FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED IN THE LADY MACLEHOSE POKFULAM CENTRE.
ON ARRIVAL THIS MORNING, MR BARNES WAS MET BY THE CHIEF RECREATION AND SPORTS OFFICER OF THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH, MR RAYMOND CHAN, AND THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE HONG KONG SPORTS ASSOCIATION FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, MRS POLLY LAI,
TODAY'S WATER CARNIVAL INVOLVED COMPETITIONS BETWEEN 65 ABLE-BODIED YOUTHS AND 65 MENTALLY HANDICAPPED YOUNG PEOPLE FROM NINE SCHOOLS AND ORGANISATIONS.
THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CARNIVAL WERE TO PROVIDE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED AND TO BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN WATER SPORTS. IT ALSO PROVIDED A CHANCE FOR THE ABLE-BODIED YOUTHS TO UNDERSTAND AND HELP THE HANDICAPPED.
ACTIVITIES IN THE CARNIVAL INCLUDED VARIOUS TYPES OF WATER SPORTS, THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHICH WERE A TREASURE BOAT+ WATER GAME FOR THE JUNIOR SECTION AND A +TAKE AND THROW+ FOR THE SENIOR SECTION.
MR BARNES SAID HE WAS PLEASED TO SEE BOTH HANDICAPPED YOUNG PEOPLE AND ABLE-BODIED YOUTHS ENJOYING THEMSELVES AND BENEFITTING FROM THE FUNCTION.
THE WATER CARNIVAL WAS ONE OF THE 10 000 ACTIVITIES ORGANISED THIS YEAR UNDER THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME, WHICH HAD ADOPTED THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR'S THEME OF +DEVELOPMENT, PARTICIPATION AND PEACE+.
TODAY'S VISIT WAS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF TOURS ORGANISED FOR SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND UMELCO MEMBERS TO GET IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME.
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