XN000022-1974-04-23 — Page 2

TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1974

IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY PLANNING UNDERLINED

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THE SUCCESS OF FAMILY PLANNING IN HONG KONG ULTIMATELY DEPENDS ON THE FRES CHUICE AND GOOD SENSE OF PARENTS, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY.

+WE HAVE OUR PLANS FOR MAKING GOOD IN THIS DECADE SÜME OF THE DEFICIENCIES OF LIFE THAT RAPID INCREASE IN OUR PUPULATION HAS PRODUCED WHETHER IN EDUCATION, HOUSING, SOCIAL SECURITY, HEALTH OR EVEN PUBLIC ORDER.

+BUT THESE PLANS COULD BE UTTERLY FRUSTRATED BY A NEW EXCESSIVE GROWTH 14 POPULATION, WHETHER BY IMMIGRATION OR BY NATURAL INCREASE,+ THE GOVERNOR SAID WHEN OPENING THE INAUGURAL CEREMONY OF THE FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION'S WORLD PUPULATION YEAR PROGRAMME AT THE HILTON HOTEL THIS ' AFTERNUJN.

SIR MURRAY EMPHASISED THAT THE FACILITIES AND ADVICE TU EMABLE PARENTS TU PLAN AND CONTRUL THE EXPANSION OF THEIR FAMILIES MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE ON A SUFFICIENTLY WIDE SCALE TO ENSURE THAT ALL WHO WISH TO USE THÊM CAN DO SO.

HE NOTED THAT THIS YEAR ALL THE 32 CLINICS IN GOVERNMENT PREMISES FORMERLY OPERATED BY THE F.P.A. WILL BE INTEGRATED INTO THE GOVERNMENT MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICE, AND ANOTHER FIVE NEW CLINICS WOULD BE DEVELOPED IN OTHER GOVERNMENT CENTRES.

+THIS WILL ENABLE THE FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION TO TURN ITS ATTENTION TO NEW AREAS NOT PREVIOUSLY COVERED, AND THUS GREATLY INCREASE THE SCOPE OF THE SERVICES OFFERED BY BOTH THE ASSOCIATION AND THE GOVERNMENT AND MAKE THEM MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.+

ONCE HONG KONG HAS THE SERVICES TO OFFER ON A SUFFICIENT SCALE, SIR MURRAY SAID, WE COULD PROFITABLY TURN TO THE SECOND STAGE, WHICH WILL BE TO USE EVERY MEANS AVAILABLE TO ENSURE THAT THE BENEFITS THAT SMALLER FAMILIES WILL BRING ARE MORE WIDELY UNDERSTOOD BY PARENTS.

THE GOVERNOR NOTED THAT THE PROBLEM OF PEOPLE HAS FOR LONG LAIN AT THE HEART OF MUST SOCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE Pod Lens kit HƯNG KÔNG

+WORLD POPULATION YEAR AND THIS SEMINAR, + HE ADDED, +GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS UN IT, TO CONSIDER ALL ADVICE AND EXPERIENCE AVAILABLE, AND TO REVIEW OUR POLICY.+

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NOTE TO EDITORS:

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COPIES OF THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS ARE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE GIS PRESS ROOM, 6TH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HUUSE.

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