XN000022-1975-12-03 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1975

NO NEED FOR SECRETARY FOR YOUTH

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THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. DENIS BRAY, SAID TODAY HE DID NOT BELIEVE THERE WAS A NEED FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A SECRETARY FOR YOUTH IN HONG KONG.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID THAT SUCH AN APPOINTMENT WAS NOT NECESSARILY THE BEST WAY TO SERVE YOUNG PEOPLE.+

ALL THE SOCIAL SERVICES, FOR YOUTH AND OTHERS, ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, +1 THINK WE ARE ALREADY DOING EVERYTHING A SECRETARY FOR YOUTH COULD DO,+ MR. BRAY SAID.

HE NOTED THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE ON SERVICES FOR YOUTH WAS APPOINTED IN 1973 TO MAKE SURE THAT NO REASONABLE SUPPORT FOR YOUTH WAS MISSED OUT, AND THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WHICH SEEMED TO BE NOBODY'S RESPONSIBILITY.

THE COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY MR. BRAY, INCLUDES ALL THE SECRETARIES AND HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS DEALING WITH MATTERS CONCERNING YOUTH. IT IS A USEFUL FORUM FOR DISCUSSION OF APPROACHES TO YOUTH PROBLEMS,+ MR. BRAY ADDED.

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