XN000022-1975-09-14 — Page 2

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1975

OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO NEW JUVENILE REGISTRATION SCHEME

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THE NEW JUVENILE REGISTRATION SCHEME INTRODUCED IN LATE 1973 HAS RECEIVED OVERWHELMING RESPONSE WITH MORE THAN 290,000 YOUNGSTERS HAVING REGISTERED.

THE FIGURE IS TWICE AS MANY AS THE NUMBER THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS DEPARTMENT WOULD EXPECT TO HANDLE IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE SCHEME.

+THE SMASHING SUCCESS, + A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID, +MIGHT BE ATTRIBUTED TO A PUBLICITY DRIVE TO PROCESS SCHOOL CHILDREN OVER THE AGE OF 11 AND ADDITIONAL STAFF TO ASSIST IN HANDLING JUVENILE REGISTRATION.+

THE DRIVE GOT UNDERWAY IN SEPTEMBER 1973 WITH STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT VISITING VARIOUS SCHOOLS TO EXPLAIN THE NEW SCHELE TO CHILDREN.

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THE EDUCATION PHASE WAS FOLLOWED BY THE FORMATION OF A SPECIAL TASK FORCE TO DEAL WITH ACTUAL REGISTRATION WHEN THE SCHEME WAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED IN NOVEMBER 1973.

THE TASK FORCE WAS MADE UP OF TWO MOBILE REGISTRATION TEAMS PREVIOUSLY RESPONSIBLE FOR REGISTERING PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS AND LARGE URBAN HOUSING ESTATES.

IN ADDITION, SOME STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT WERE ALSO AVAILABLE TO COPE WITH THE JUVENILE REGISTRATION VORK IN VARIOUS BRANCH AND SUD-OFFICES.

THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY RAISING THE REGISTRACLE AGE FOR ADULT IDENTITY CARD FROM 17 TO 18, THUS CREATING A TEMPORARY +RE-REGISTRATION GAP+ AND LESS WORKLOAD FOR STAFF HANDLING ADULT REGISTRATION.

DURING THE 13-MONTH DRIVE WHICH ENDED IN DECEMBER 1974. THE TWO TEAMS CALLED AT 189 SCHOOLS TO PROCESS CHILDREN MAINLY OF AGES BETWEEN 11 AND 13 YEARS.

TO REGULATE THE WORKLOAD OF THE DEPARTMENT'S SUD-OFFICES, STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT ALSO LIAISED WITH SOME 250 SECONDARY AND NUMEROUS PRIMARY SCHOOLS TO PROGRANHE SCHOOL CHILDREN FOR REGISTRATION.

SCHOOL CHILDREN DISTRIBUTED WITH THE FORMS WERE PROCESSED AT A SPECIFIED TIME SO THAT QUEUING UP IN THE DEPARTMENT'S SUB-OFFICES WAS MINIMIZED.

/HITE SCHOOL