XN000022-1976-01-17 — Page 2

SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1976.

PO LEUNG KUK'S WORK PRAISED ******

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY PRAISED THE PO LEUNG KUK FOR ITS SUCCESS IN EXPANDING ITS FACILITIES, PARTICULARLY IN EXTENDING ITS SERVICES TO RESIDENTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE NEW NURSERY AND THE SMALL GROUP HOME AT THE KWAI CHUNG ESTATE, HE SAID, HAD CERTAINLY PROVIDED A MUCH NEEDED SERVICE AND NO DOUBT THE PROJECTS PROPOSED FOR LEI MUK SHU AND SHATIN WOULD BE EQUALLY WELCOME.

SIR MURRAY WAS SPEAKING DURING A VISIT TO THE KUK TO SEE FOR HIMSELF THE PROGRESS. MADE SINCE HIS LAST VISIT IN 1972.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH:-

+

+THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, FOR INVITING ME TO VISIT THE PO LEUNG KUK ONCE AGAIN, IT IS INDEED A GREAT PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO SEE FOR MYSELF THE PROGRESS MADE SINCE MY LAST VISIT IN 1972.

+FOR ALMOST A CENTURY THE KUK HAS ADHERED TO AND ACHIEVED THE OBJECTIVES FOR WHICH IT WAS ESTABLISHED, NAMELY THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN, BUT MORE THAN THIS, AS THE CHAIRMAN HAS JUST TOLD US, THE KUK'S WORK AND METHODS HAVE KEPT PACE WITH THE MARCH OF TIME. NOR MERELY ARE YOUNG PEOPLE PROTECTED AND THE WEAK CARED FOR, BUT THEY ARE GIVEN

AS NEARLY AS POSSIBLE WHAT A REAL HOME, RATHER THAN AN INSTITUTION, SHOULD GIVE, NAMELY EDUCATION, INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE HEALTHY ENJOYMENT OF THEIR LEISURE TIME.

+I WISH TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR FELLOW DIRECTORS ON THE KUK'S IMPRESSIVE ACHIEVEMENTS WITHIN THE TERM OF OFFICE OF THE CURRENT BOARD. I AM SURE THE COMMUNITY WILL SHARE MY APPRECIATION OF THE TIME, EFFORT AND FINANCIAL BACKING WHICH YOU HAVE GIVEN FOR THE WELFARE OF THE KUK'S CHILDREN.

+ ALSO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR SUCCESS IN EXPANDING THE KUK'S FACILITIES, PARTICULARLY ON EXTENDING YOUR SERVICES TO RESIDENTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES. YOUR NEW NURSERY AND THE SMALL GROUP HOME AT THE KWAI CHUNG ESTATE HAVE CERTAINLY PROVIDED A MUCH NEEDED SERVICE AND NO DOUBT THE PROJECTS PROPOSED FOR LEI' MUK SHU AND SHATIN WILL BE EQUALLY WELCOME.

+1 AM PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE TWO PROPOSED PROJECTS MENTIONED IN YOUR ADDRESS: NAMELY THE HOLIDAY CAMP AT PAK TAM CHUNG AND THE HOSTEL AND WORKSHOP FOR MENTALLY-RETARDED PEOPLE AT KO CHIU ESTATE. I AM SURE THAT THEY WILL BE OF GREAT VALUE.

/+APPRECIATION