XN000022-1978-01-07 — Page 4

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1978

3

DURING THE COURSE, THEY WILL ACQUIRE THE BASIC KNOWLEDGE ON THE PROBATION SERVICE, THE IR ROLE AND FUNCTIONS AS VOLUNTEERS, AND THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF DRUG ADDICTS, TRIAD OFFENDERS AND PROBLEM GIRLS.

WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN ORIENTATED, THEY WILL BE 'MATCHED WITH THE PROBATIONERS AND START HELPING TO REFORM THEM.

THE SCHEME IS AN EFFECTIVE METHOD OF REFORMING YOUNG OFFENDERS BECAUSE A YOUNG OFFENDER MAY FEEL MORE AT EASE AND LESS SUSPICIOUS TOWARDS A VOLUNTEER WHO IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE AUTHORITIES AND IS LIKELY TO CONF IDE HIS DEEPEST FEELINGS TO HIM.

ANOTHER ADVANTAGE OF THE SCHEME IS THAT A VOLUNTEER COULD LEAD A PROBATIONER TO A NEW CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND HELP HIM BREAK AWAY FROM HIS FORMER BAD ASSOCIATES.

IMPROVEMENTS TO ANOTHER SECTION OF SOUTH LANTAU ROAD ****

IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE MADE SHORTLY TO ANOTHER SECTION OF SOUTH LANTAU ROAD TO PROVIDE BETTER ACCESS FOR BOTH VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC.

THE SECTION OF THE ROAD BETWEEN SHUI HAU AND SHEK PIK WILL BE WIDENED TO TWO-LANE WITH A FOOTPATH ON ONE SIDE ALONG ITS ENTIRE LENGTH.

THE ROADWORKS WILL FORM THE FINAL PART OF A $35 MILLION SCHEME TO IMPROVE BY STAGES SOUTH LANTAU ROAD BETWEEN CHEUNG SHA AND KEUNG SHAN ALONG THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CONTRACTORS ARE ALREADY WELL UNDERWAY ON THE FIRST THREE STAGES OF THE SCHEME COVERING THE SECTION FROM CHEUNG SHA TO TONG FUK.

ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. VICTOR YUNG, SAID TODAY LANTAU ISLAND HAD BECOME INCREASINGLY POPULAR AS A PICNIC AREA AND THE PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ROAD SHOULD GREATLY FACILITATE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON THE ISLAND.

IN ORDER TO ENABLE THE ROADWORKS TO BE CARRIED OUT, THE GOVERNMENT IS TO RESUME ABOUT 2,100 SQUARE METRES OF PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL LAND ALONG THE ROAD SECTION EARMARKED FOR IMPROVEMENTS.

MR. YUNG SAID THAT NO BUILDING LAND OR TEMPORARY STRUCTURES WOULD HAVE TO BE CLEARED AND NO FAMILIES WOULD BE DISPLACED.

+THE GOVERNMENT WILL PAY COMPENSATION FOR CROPS, FRUIT TREES, GRAVES AND BONE POTS AS WELL AS EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE TO CULTIVATORS,. HE SAID.

/4

►