XN000022-1976-05-17 — Page 4

MONDAY, MAY 17, 1976

+SOME PEOPLE ARGUE THAT WITH THE ASSUMPTION BY THE GOVERNMENT OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROVISION OF EDUCATIONAL, MEDICAL AND SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, AND WITH THE VAST SUMS THAT THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES IN COMPARISON WITH THOSE OF FUND RAISING ORGANISATIONS, THE LATTER HAVE NO LONGER A USEFUL PART TO PLAY. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. WITH EXPANDING REQUIREMENTS, RISING COSTS, AND THE STEADY REDUCTION OF DONATIONS FROM ABROAD, THE PURELY FINANCIAL IMPORTANCE OF FUND RAISING IS VERY GREAT INDEED AND THERE IS A CONSTANT REQUIREMENT FOR HIGHER TARGETS AND EVEN MORE GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS. BUT ALSO THE WILLINGNESS OF A COMMUNITY TO GIVE, AND TO ORGANISE ITSELF TO DO SO, IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ITS HEALTH AS A COMMUNITY AND A MOST PRACTICAL FORM OF PERSONAL PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC LIFE. FOR BOTH THESE REASONS IN HONG KONG, AS I AM SURE

IN OTHER COMMUNITIES HERE REPRESENTED, FUND RAISING AND THE TECHNIQUES OF FUND RAISING HAVE A VITAL FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL PART TO PLAY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY OF PAYING MY TRIBUTE TO ALL THOSE WHO DEVOTE THEIR TIME AND INGENUITY AND MONEY TO THIS PURPOSE.

+I WISH YOU ALL A FRUITFUL AND ENJOYABLE EXCHANGE OF VIEWS, AND I HAVE MUCH PLEASURE IN DECLARING OPEN THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON UNITED FUND RAISING.+

NOTE TO EDITORS:

''MEET THE MEDIA'' SESSION

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A ''MEET THE MEDIA"' SESSION WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY (MAY 20) AT 4 P.M. IN THE G.I.S. THEATRE ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF BEACONSFIELD HOUSE.

ATTENDING THE MEETING WILL BE THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES, MR. BRIAN WILSON.

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE MEETING. TELEVISION CREWS ARE ADVISED TO ARRIVE EARLY SO THAT THEY WILL HAVE AMPLE TIME TO SET UP THEIR EQUIPMENT.

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