XN000022-1972-07-13 — Page 3

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Thursday, July 13, 1972

TRIBUTE TO RAINSTORM VOLUNTEERS

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The head of the Social Welfare Department's Group and Community

Work Division, Mr. Stephen Law Chi-kin, today praised hundreds of volunteers

for helping with relief work in disaster areas following last month's

rainstorms.

He was referring in particular to members of departmental community

centres, including students, factory workers, and housewives, who had

made themselves available for odd jobs in Wong Tai Sin, Tai Hang Tung,

Kwun Tong and Tsuen Wan at all hours of the day and night.

Their offers of help ranged from fetching and carrying for the

dispossessed to making tea on the spot for tired workers.

One group of housewives in Kwun Tong came regularly to the

district's centre soon after daybreak every morning to attend to the needs

of landslide victims being temporarily housed there.

Students in Wong Tai Sin, Kwun Tong, and Tsuen Wan performed a

variety of services. They helped in the removal of rubble, assisted victims

to set up temporary accommodation, or register for aid.

In other cases, they volunteered to effect contact between lone

survivors and relatives elsewhere, and took part in the transportation of

salvaged household items.

Mr. Law said as soon as news of the disaster spread, volunteers came

forward with offers of help. Their eagerness to be of service profoundly

impressed professional social workers who were moved by this "massive

demonstration of public concern at fellow suffering."

"I cannot thank each volunteer by name, since they were so numerous,

but I hope all will regard this general expression of appreciation as directed

at them personally," he commented.

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