XN000022-1976-09-15 — Page 2

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1976

BIRTHRATE IN HONG KONG FALLING

THE BIRTHRATE

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HONG KONG'S PRINCIPAL WORRY IS FALLING AND FERTILITY RATES IN ALL AGE GROUPS ARE COMING DOWN, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY SAID THIS MORNING WHEN HE OPENED THE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION SEMINAR OF THE FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG,

+ IT IS EXTREMELY ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT THE CRUDE BIRTHRATE HAS DROPPED FROM A LEVEL OF 19.7 PER THOUSAND IN THE PERIOD 1971-74 TO 18.3 PER THOUSAND IN 1975. IT WILL BE LOWER STILL FOR 1976 BASED ON BIRTH FIGURES RECORDED OVER THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS,+ MR. TOPLEY SAID. IN FACT ABOUT 17.3 THIS YEAR, VERY LOW INDEED.+

THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT THE NET REPRODUCTION RATE DROPPED FROM JUST BELOW 1.7 IN 1970 TO THE PRESENT FIGURE OF BELOW 1.3.

+CONSCIENTIOUS MOTHERS ARE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT KEEPING DOWN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THEIR FAMILIES.

+THERE ARE FEWER FIFTH ORDER BIRTHS, THAT IS HAVING A FIFTH CHILD OR MORE IN THE FAMILY,+ MR. TOPLEY SAID. IN 1970 THE PERCENTAGE OF SUCH BIRTHS STOOD AT 23.2 PER CENT. BY 1975 THE PERCENTAGE HAD DROPPED TO 10.4.

WITHOUT DOUBT FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION HAD A REAL ROLE TO PLAY: TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF BEING A PARENT OR A SPOUSE AND TO CARRY OUT THE DUTIES OF BEING A FATHER OR MOTHER.

IT AIMED TO PROMOTE HAPPY RELATIONSHIPS AMONG ALL MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY, HELPING THEM TO UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER AND TO RESPECT EACH OTHER'S FEELINGS. IT ALSO A IMED TO HELP MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY TO SHARE THEIR FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES.

+1 THINK IT IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT IN FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION THERE IS ROOM FOR SEX EDUCATION, THE DIRECTOR SAID.

THIS WAS A TOPIC THAT HAS BEEN ALMOST TABOO IN HONG KONG. +BUT THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE AND IT IS BEING OPENLY DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC, HE SAID.

THIS WAS EVIDENCED BY THE LONG QUEUES OF PEOPLE AT THE SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION EXHIBITION AT THE CITY HALL STAGED BY MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR.

MR. TOPLEY SAID: +A GOOD START IS BEING MADE IN OUR SCHOOLS TO CATER FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR ADOLESCENTS IN HELPING THEM TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH DURING THIS DIFFICULT STAGE OF LIFE.

/+SEX EDUCATION