XN000022-1978-04-20 — Page 8

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THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1978

FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION DRAMA ON PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP

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SLIGHT DEVIATIONS FROM PRINCIPLES OF CHILD REARING, ALONG WITH NEGLIGENCE AND FAULTS COMMITTED DUE TO MOMENTARY CARELESSNESS, COULD SHATTER COMPLETELY A CHILD'S SENSE OF BELONGING TO HIS FAMILY WHICH MANY MODERN PARENTS ARE AT PAINS TO CULTIVATE,

IN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF THE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION SPECIAL 'UNDER THE SAME ROOF, PRODUCED BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, THE INNER WORLD OF A MISUNDERSTOOD CHILD' IS BROUGHT INTO FOCUS.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE FLEXIBILITY OF A LYRICAL APPROACH HAPPENINGS IN A WELL-TO-DO FAMILY ARE SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF THE NEGLECTED CHILD, MAGNIFYING A SELECTIVE RENDITION OF RELEVANT EVENTS AS WELL AS REGISTERING THEIR IMPACT ON THE LEAD CHARACTER.

BEING THE SECOND SON IN A FAMILY OF FIVE, THE 'MISUNDERSTOOD CHILD' RECEIVES A SMALLER PORTION OF CARE AND ATTENTION FROM HIS LENIENT FATHER, WHO SHARES COMMON INTERESTS WITH THE ELDEST SON, AND ALSO FROM HIS STRICT MOTHER, WHO IS ALWAYS PREOCCUPIED WITH THE WELFARE OF THE PETITE DAUGHTER.

WITH ALMOST EVERY ONE LOOKING UPON HIM AS A MELANCHOLIC SLOW- LINER', THE REAL SELF OF THE EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOY EMERGES IN THE OPENING SCENES WHEN HE PLAYED WITH HIS FRIEND, ALSO A NEGLECTED CHILD, IN THE AIRPORT FAR FROM THE PRESSURE OF HIS HOME.

THE VIVACITY AND LOVE FOR THE FAMILY SHINES THROUGH THAT BRIEF INTERLUDE, AND HIS REPERTORY ON AEROPLANES REVEALS HIS INTELLIGENCE, WHICH SHOULD GAIN A MUCH HIGHER RATING THAN THE ONE GIVEN BY THOSE AROUND HIM.

COMMENT'ING ON THE CHILD'S CONTRAST IN BEHAVIOUR, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT TODAY THAT OCCASIONAL ACTS OF FAVOURITISM OR UNFAIR TREATMENT, AS PORTRAYED IN THE DRAMA, WOULD INSTIL IN THE TENDER MIND A SENSE OF INFERIORITY DETRIMENTAL TO HIS MENTAL DEVELOPMENT.

+TRIVIALITIES SUCH AS CASUAL COMMENTS FROM A NEIGHBOUR ON HIS CHUBBY LOOKS AND CLUMSY BEHAVIOUR, AND REPROACH CONCERNING HIS NOT- TOO-BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL WERE ALL TAKEN TO HEART BY THE CHILD, WHO, AT HIS BEST, WOULD RESORT TO VARIOUS WAYS WITHIN HIS MEANS TO WIN BACK HIS LOST FAVOUR, HE SAID.

HE NOTED THAT