XN000022-1975-06-27 — Page 5

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FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 1975

HOME AFFAIRS SECRETARY OPENS SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME PRAISES EFFORTS OF ALL INVOLVED *******

MR. DENIS BRAY, SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION. TODAY THANKED ORGANISERS OF THIS YEAR'S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME FOR THEIR CO-OPERATION IN MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR MORE THAN TWO MILLION YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENJOY THIS +TRADITIONAL, ANNUAL EVENT.+

HE WAS SPEAKING AT AN INFORMAL CEREMONY TO LAUNCH THE PROGRAMME. IT WILL GATHER MOMENTUM AS SCHOOLS CLOSE IN THE EARLY PART OF JULY FOR THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS. MR. BRAY SAID:

+ON BEHALF OF THE CENTRAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR YOUTH RECREATION, I WELCOME YOU ALL TO THIS INFORMAL GATHERING WHICH MARKS THE OPENING OF THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME 1975.

+THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME IS NOW A TRADITIONAL, ANNUAL EVENT IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AS A WHOLE, AND IS THE SOURCE FOR A WIDE RANGE OF RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

+THE GROWTH OF THE PROGRAMME HAS BEEN MOST ENCOURAGING. IN THE FIRST FULLY CO-ORDINATED SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME STAGED IN 1969, ABOUT 500,000 YOUNG PEOPLE TOOK PART. BY 1974, THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS HAD INCREASED TO WELL OVER 1,500,000 AND THIS YEAR IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE NUMBERS INVOLVED ARE LIKELY TO EXCEED 2,000,000. CLEARLY WE HAVE NOT YET REACHED THE LIMITS TO WHICH THIS PROGRAMME SHALL BE EXTENDED.

+THE TREMENDOUS RANGE OF ACTIVITIES PROVIDED, CAN ONLY GO ON BECAUSE OF THE DEDICATED ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS WHO PUT SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME AND EFFORT INTO RUNNING THE PROGRAMME. THEIR WORK IS SUSTAINED AND AIDED BY KAIFONG AND OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO CONTRIBUTE IN MANY WAYS TO THIS PROGRAMME BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE END OBJECT IS SIMPLY TO DO SOMETHING REAL FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.

+TO ALL OF YOU HERE PRESENT I OFFER MY SINCERE THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION IN THIS VERY WORTHWHILE PROJECT AND HOPE THAT AS REPRESENTATIVES OF MANY OF THE ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED, YOU WILL TAKE THESE GOOD WISHES BACK TO YOUR COLLEAGUES ON MY BEHALF.

+NOW THAT THIS YEAR'S PROGRAMME IS JUST ABOUT TO START IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO WISH YOU ALL 'EVERY SUCCESS' IN THE SUMMER MONTHS TO COME.+

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