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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1976

SCOUT MOVEMENT HELPS FIGHT CRIME

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THE SCOUT MOVEMENT HAD PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME IN RECENT YEARS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING AT AN INAUGURATION CEREMONY FOR OFFICE BEARERS OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT SCOUT ASSOCIATION, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THAT IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, THE RATE OF CRIMES COMMITTED BY PERSONS UNDER 16 HAD FALLEN FROM 10 PER CENT TO SEVEN PER CENT.

+THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE SCOUTING MOVEMENT, BY PROVIDING A HEALTHY OUTLET, HAS CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS THIS IMPROVED SITUATION,+ HE SAID,

+ IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, FOR EXAMPLE, SCOUT MEMBERSHIP HAS GROWN 60 PER CENT OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.+

MR. AKERS-JONES, WHO IS ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE NT REGIONAL SCOUT COUNCIL, SAID THAT SCOUTING CARRIED A STRICT DISCIPLINE COMBINED WITH THE LOFTY CONCEPT OF SERVING OTHERS.

HE ADDED THAT THE LOCAL ASSOCIATION IN TUEN MUN WAS PLANNING TO BUILD ITS OWN WELL-EQUIPPED SCOUT CENTRE.

+ I HOPE THAT THE ASSOCIATION WILL BE JOINED BY OTHER CIVIC-MINDED PEOPLE IN EXTENDING FACILITIES TO THE YOUTH OF THE DISTRICT,+ HE SAID,

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