XN000022-1976-12-07 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1976

EIGHTEEN NEW SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN ******

THE GOVERNMENT IS TO BUILD 18 NEW SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY.

THIS CRASH BUILDING PROGRAMME REFLECTED THE GOVERNMENT'S DETERMINATION TO CARRY OUT THE TREMENDOUS TASK OF MAKING UP THE DEFICIENCIES IN COMMUNITY FACILITIES IN TSUEN WAN, HE ADDED.

MR. AKERS-JONES WAS SPEAKING AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S MOBILE CAREERS EXHIBITION AT THE SHA TSUI PLAYGROUND IN TSUEN WAN TO MARK THE START OF A SEVEN- WEEK PROGRAMME OF VISITS TO FIVE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICTS BY THE UNIT.

MORE THAN 400 SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM THE NEW TOWN, ALONG WITH COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. IAN PRICE, AND LOCAL DIGNITARIES INCLUDING THE TSUEN WAN RURAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR. PETER YEUNG, ATTENDED THE CEREMONY.

MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THAT WORK HAD STARTED ON EIGHT NEW SECONDARY SCHOOLS THIS YEAR, AND A SITE HAD BEEN ALLOCATED FOR A NINTH SCHOOL.

HE SAID THAT THE REMARKABLE GROWTH IN SECONDARY SCHOOL FACILITIES IN THE NEW TOWN HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR SERVICES SUCH AS THOSE PROVIDED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE.

MR. AKERS-JONES EMPHASISED TO THE SCHOOL CHILDREN THAT THE CHOICE OF A CAREER WAS VERY IMPORTANT.

+A CAREERS ADVISORY SERVICE TO PROVIDE USEFUL AND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION IS A NECESSARY HELP TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT MOBILE EXHIBITION UNIT IS SERVING A VERY USEFUL PURPOSE IN THIS RESPECT, HE SAID.

+THERE ARE ABOUT 50,000 YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12 AND 15 IN TSUEN WAN, AND I AM SURE THEY WILL FIND THIS EXHIBITION INVALUABLE TO THEM, IN MAKING THEM AWARE OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE OPEN TO THEM.+

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SPEAKING AT THE SAME CEREMONY, MR. PRICE SAID THE SEVEN-WEEK PROGRAMME IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WAS A CONCERTED EFFFORT BY ALL CONCERNED THE DISTRICT OFFICES, THE LOCAL RURAL COMMITTEES AND HIS DEPARTMENT'S YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE.

MR. PRICE ADDED: +BECAUSE OF THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS PLANNING THE EXTENSION OF MANY OF ITS SERVICES TO THE NEW TOWNS OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS.

/+AS FAR