XN000022-1974-06-11 — Page 7

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TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 1974

PUBLIC DONATIONS TO DISASTER VICTIMS

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A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT IT WOULD BE OF CONSIDERABLE HELP IF, IN FUTURE, ORGANISATIONS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO DONATE MONEY TOWARDS THE RELIEF OF VICTIMS OF NATURAL DISASTERS COULD DONATE THE MONEY TO THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND WHICH THE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTERS, INSTEAD OF TO THE VICTIMS OF A PARTICULAR DISASTER.

IN CALLING FOR PUBLIC CO-OPERATION IN THIS MATTER, MR. NORMAN OEI, THE DEPARTMENTAL SECRETARY, SAID THERE HAD BEEN SOME CONFUSION IN THE PAST AS TO THE WISHES OF THE DONORS BECAUSE OF THE WORDING OF SOME OF THE APPEALS FOLLOWING A NATURAL DISASTER. WITH THE ADVENT OF THE TYPHOON SEASON ONCE AGAIN, HE FELT THE POSITION SHOULD BE CLARIFIED.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND WAS SET UP BY THE GOVERNMENT WITH THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF HELPING ALL PERSONS AFFECTED BY TYPHOONS, LANDSLIDES, FLOODING AND FIRES, BY GIVING THEM IMMEDIATE CASH GRANTS.

+THE FUND EXISTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF DISASTER VICTIMS GENERALLY AND ANY DONATIONS MADE TO IT WILL THEREFORE BE PUT TO VERY GOOD USE EITHER IMMEDIATELY A DISASTER OCCURS OR IN THE LONG TERM.+

HE STRESSED THAT IT WAS ENTIRELY UP TO WOULD-JE DONORS TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WISHED TO SUBSCRIBE TOWARDS THE FUND OR TO DONATE THEIR MONEY TO A SPECIFIC GROUP OF VICTIMS. IF THEY CHOSE TO DO THE LATTER, IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE, HE SAID, IF THE MONEY WAS SENT TO A VOLUNTARY AGENCY FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE VICTIMS CONCERNED RATHER THAN TO THE DEPARTMENT.

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DRUG ABUSE EDUCATION WORKSHOP

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MORE THAN 120 TEACHERS FROM SCHOOLS IN THE HONG KONG EAST AREA TODAY ATTENDED THE SECOND OF A SERIES OF WORKSHOP ON DRUG ABUSE EDUCATION FOR TEACHERS OF PUPILS IN THE 10-15 AGE GROUP.

+THE AIM OF THESE WORKSHOPS 13 TO ACQUAINT TEACHERS WITH THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE DRUG PROBLEM IN HONG KONG, TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TEACHERS TO EXCHANGE VIEWS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THEIR OWN DISTRICT, AND TO EXPLORE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS OF EDUCATING PUPILS AGAINST DRUG ABUSE,+ AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE WORKSHOPS ARE BEING CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN CO- OPERATION WITH THE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS.

TODAY'S WORKSHOP, WHICH WAS HELD AT THE HO TUNG TECHNICAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, WAS OPENED BY REV. K.L. STUMPF, CHAIRMAN OF ACAN'S EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY SUB-COMMITTEE AND DIRECTOR OF THE LUTHERAN WORLD FEDERATION.

THE FIRST WORKSHOP WAS HELD AT THE KWUN TONG GOVERNMENT SECONDARY TECHNICAL SCHOOL A MONTH AGO.

THE WORKSHOPS, FOLLOW THE SYMPOSIUM ON DRUG ABUSE HELD AT THE GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION LAST FEBRUARY.

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