XN000022-1975-01-12 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 1975

"HOT LINE' SERVICE FOR STUDENTS

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AN EXPERIMENTAL "HOT LINE SERVICE WILL BE STARTED LATER THIS YEAR TO HELP FORM I STUDENTS IN SAU MAU PING DISTRICT WHO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SCHOOL WORK BUT HAVE NO ONE TO TURN TO OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.

PLANS ARE NOW BEING MADE TO GET THIS PROJECT OFF THE GROUND, TWO TELEPHONES WILL BE INSTALLED AT A CENTRE WHERE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO CALL AND DISCUSS ANY PROBLEMS IN THE EVENINGS FROM MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS. THE PROJECT WILL BE TRIED OUT FOR A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS FROM MARCH TO JUNE.

THE IDEA FOR A HOT LINE SERVICE CAME FROM A GROUP OF STUDENTS OF FORM 3 LEVEL AND ABOVE, AND IS JUST ONE OF 42 PROJECTS WHICH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS SUPPORTING UNDER ITS OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR.

ANOTHER PROJECT - A YOUNG PEOPLE'S NEWS SHEET - STARTED THIS MONTH IN WESTERN DISTRICT AND IS BEING CIRCULATED TO SOME 1,000 YOUNGSTERS TO HELP DEVELOP COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE OF THEIR OWN AGES. THIS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL JUNE.

NOT ONLY STUDENTS ARE INVOLVED IN THE PROJECTS. INDUSTRIAL WORKERS TOO HAVE TAKEN AN INTEREST AND A GROUP WORKING IN WONG TAI SIN WILL BE CARRYING OUT A SERVICE PROJECT. THEY PLAN TO MAKE A STUDY ON YOUTH OF THE AREA COVERING SUCH ASPECTS AS EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, LEISURE ACTIVITIES AND PARTICIPATION, DELINQUENCY AND SO ON. THEY WILL COMPILE A REPORT ON THEIR FINDINGS IN THE STUDY WHICH WILL TAKE FOUR MONTHS.

THE GROUP WILL ALSO BE PHOTOGRAPHING PLACES AND SUBJECTS OF INTEREST RELATED TO THEIR STUDY AND WILL MOUNT A MOBILE EXHIBITION TO HELP THOSE LIVING IN THE DISTRICT BECOME MORE AWARE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, A GROUP OF YOUTHS EXPERIENCED IN LIFE-SAVING AND SIMILAR ACTIVITIES, WILL BE SPONSORING A WATER SAFETY CAMPAIGN IN TUEN MUN. STARTING IN MARCH AND LASTING NINE MONTHS, THIS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME IS AIMED AT TEACHING OTHER YOUNG SWIMMERS HOW TO ENJOY THIS PAST-TIME WITHOUT ENDANGERING THEMSELVES OR OTHERS. PARTICIPANTS WILL ALSO BE TAUGHT THE BASICS OF LIFE-SAVING.

ACCORDING TO MR, ALFRED CHUI, PRINCIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT'S GROUP AND COMMUNITY WORK DIVISION, A TOTAL OF 93 PROJECTS WERE SUBMITTED AND 42 WERE CHOSEN AS BEING OF BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY. THE PROJECTS SUPPORTED WILL INVOLVE A TOTAL OF 615 YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE PLANNING STAGES AND AN EVEN GREATER NUMBER IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE.

OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS WILL INCLUDE SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY, THE DISABLED AS WELL AS CHILDREN IN RESITE AREAS AND ISOLATED VILLAGES.

MR. CHUI EXPLAINED THAT THE SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED TO INVOLVE YOUTH IN PROMOTING THEIR PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH USEFUL COMMUNITY SERVICES.

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