XN000022-1975-10-23 — Page 17

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1975

DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURE ADVOCATED

TO DISCOURAGE CRIMINAL TENDENCIES AMONG THE YOUNG

X X X X X X

THE HON. ALEX S.C. WU TODAY CALLED FOR WIDER PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURE IN HONG KONG AS A MEANS OF COMBATING VIOLENT CRIME.

HE SAID THERE WAS A WIDESPREAD +UNSATISFYING, AIMLESS AND MATERIALISTIC OUTLOOK ON LIFE+ AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE NOWADAYS WHICH HAD DEVELOPED FROM HONG KONG'S PARTICULAR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BACKGROUND.

AS A RESULT, MOST YOUTHS SUFFER FROM A LACK OF APPRECIATION OF PERSONAL VALUES AND THE GOVERNING PRINCIPLES OF LIFE, AN ABSENCE OF SELF-CONTROL IN THE FACE OF MATERIALISTIC TEMPTATIONS, AND A FEELING OF GREAT INSECURITY WHICH FREQUENTLY LEADS TO

IMPULSIVE ACTION.

WHAT HONG KONG NEEDED NOW WAS A NEW TYPE OF INDIVIDUAL WITH A DEVELOPED SENSE OF PERSONAL VALUES AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE RESPECT DUE TO OTHER PEOPLE.

SUCH YOUTHS COULD BE DEVELOPED THROUGH THE PRECEPTS OF CULTURE THE ACT OF SELF-DEVELOPMENT BY EDUCATION, DISCIPLINE, SOCIAL EXPERIENCE, HE SAID, AND HE URGED THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION TO INJECT INTO THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM AN INTEREST IN CULTURE FOR ITS OWN SAKE, NOT AS AN OCCASIONAL SUBJECT TO BE TOUCHED UPON WHEN BUSINESS OF PASSING AN EXAMINATION PERMITS.

+I BELIEVE THAT A STRONG AND CONSTRUCTIVE EMPHASIS ON CULTURAL AFFAIRS AT ALL STAGES AND LEVELS OF EDUCATION CAN PLAY AN EFFECTIVE PART IN HALTING A RELENTLESS DRIFT TOWARDS DISRESPECT FOR AND DISREGARD OF OTHER PEOPLE AND THEIR PROPERTY, + HE ADDED.

AS A START, HE SAID, WITH UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION NOW A REALITY IN HONG KONG, CHILDREN FROM AN EARLY STAGE SHOULD BE GIVEN THE EXPERIENCE TO APPRECIATE ALL THE FINER POINTS OF LIFE.

+THROUGH THE FELLOWSHIP CREATED IN SUCH AN ATMOSPHERE, THEY WILL BE LESS INCLINED TO RESORT TO VIOLENCE AT A LATER STAGE NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF STRESS THEY ARE SUBJECTED TO,+ HE SAID.

HE ACCEPTED THAT HONG KONG HAD A FINE SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH A BALANCED CURRICULUM, FACILITIES OFFERED BY MANY ORGANISATIONS, AND ENTHUSIASTIC PEOPLE WHO HELP TRANSFORM HONG KONG INTO A CENTRE OF THE ARTS.

+BUT THE QUESTION IS, ARE THE PARENTS AND OUR EDUCATORS MAKING FULL USE OF THE FACILITIES,+ HE ASKED.

EMPLOYERS TOO COULD GAIN FROM THE PROMOTION OF CULTURE, BECAUSE A WORKER WHO IS INTERESTED IN FINER THINGS AND IS HAPPY, AND HAS SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO BESIDES HIS DAILY WORK, PRODUCES MORE, HE SAID.

MR. WU DID NOT