XN000022-1978-05-24 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

SOCIAL WORK AMONG UNATTACHED YOUTH

MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH DISAGREED WITH THE CAUTION EXPRESSED IN THE GREEN PAPER ON THE EXPANSION OF OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK.

SHE SAID THAT DESPITE THE PROVISION OF THREE YEARS OF SUBSIDISED SECONDARY EDUCATION, MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD CONTINUE TO LEAVE SCHOOL AT AN EARLY AGE, SHE URGED SOCIAL WORK TRAINING INSTITUTIONS TO GIVE MORE EMPHASIS TO DEVELOPING THE SKILLS OF THEIR STUDENTS IN WORKING WITH UNATTACHED YOUNG PEOPLE.

MR. WONG LAM HOWEVER THOUGHT THAT PAST RESULTS OF SUCH SOCIAL WORK SHOULD BE ASSESSED FIRST BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT COMMITS A LARGE AMOUNT OF MANPOWER AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES IN IT.

IF IT IS UNCERTAIN WHAT POSITIVE RESULTS COULD BE OBTAINED, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO INVEST OUR VALUABLE RESOURCES IN A HURRY, HE SAID.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN SUGGESTED THAT OUTREACHING WORK TEAMS WOULD HAVE TO BE LOCATED IN THE DENSELY POPULATED URBAN OR NEW TERRITORIES AREAS WHERE A HIGHER INCIDENCE OF DELINQUENCY EXISTS.

THE WORK OF THESE TEAMS WOUULD HAVE TO BE CONTINUOUSLY MONITORED AND IN THE ABSENCE OF OTHER MORE EFFECTIVE MEASURES THEY SHOULD BE EXPANDED AND INCREASED AS FAST AS THE NEED BECOMES APPARENT OR CAN BE ANTICIPATED AND TRAINING RESOURCES PERMIT.

THE AD HOC GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS SUPPORTED THE WORK OF THE POLICE DISCRETIONARY SCHEME AND PROPOSED CLOSER LIAISON BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN REHABILITATING JUVENILE DELINQUENTS.

THEY WERE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT GIRLS FOUND IN VICE ESTABLISHMENTS DURING POLICE RAIDS AND SUGGESTED THAT PROCEDURES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED FOR THEM TO BE AUTOMATICALLY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY REFERRED TO SOCIAL WORKERS FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE.

FOR BOYS AND GIRLS WITH PROBLEMS WHICH NOW PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN REHABILITATION WORK SHOULD ALSO BE MADE MORE WIDELY KNOWN AND FURTHER EXPANDED.

RESIDENTIAL HOMES OR REFUGE

FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION

THE AD HOC GROUP SUPPORTED THE EXPANSION AND CONSCIOUS PROMOTION OF FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES AND SUGGESTED THAT FUNDS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR TRAINING OR FOR WELFARE ORGANISATIONS TO DEVELOP RESOURCE MATERIALS.

THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT LIAISON BETWEEN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, AND THE MASS MEDIA IN GENERAL SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED.

MR. CHRONG-LEISI