XN000022-1978-08-28 — Page 5

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 1978

RECREATION PROGRAMME ESSENTIAL FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

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THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS. EVELYN DOE, TODAY PLEDGED SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANISATION OF MORE HEALTHY RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AS A MEANS TO HELP STEER YOUNG PEOPLE ON THEIR WAY TO GOOD CITIZENSHIP.

AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THIS YEAR'S SUMMER PROGRAMME RUN BY THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT YOUTH RECREATION CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE, MRS. DOE SPOKE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY OUTLETS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN A HIGHLY URBANISED SOCIETY.

+APART FROM FOSTERING THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEVELOPMENT, THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME HAD GONE A LONG WAY IN HELPING YOUNGSTERS BUILD UP THEIR MORAL SENSE, AROUSE THE IR SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS AND DIRECT THE IR INCENTIVE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY,+ SHE SAID.

WITH FULL SUPPORT FROM VARIOUS SECTORS, MRS. DOE WAS CONF IDENT THAT OTHER TERRITORY-WIDE RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMES, SUCH AS THE CHINESE NEW YEAR ACTIVITIES, WOULD BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS THE ONE ORGANISED IN SUMMER.

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TURNING TO THIS YEAR'S PROGRAMME CONDUCTED IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT, SHE SAID THAT THE WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES, TOTALLING 450, HAD GIVEN 80,000 YOUNG PEOPLE AN ENJOYABLE AND MEANINGFUL VACATION.

SHE PRAISED THE DISTRICT'S YOUTH RECREATION CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE MADE UP OF 78 WELFARE AGENCIES, COMMUNITY BODIES AND LOCAL OFFICES OF VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, FOR THIS SUCCESSFUL VENTURE.

+I HOPE THAT THIS SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION WILL RESULT IN THE PROVISION OF MORE VALUABLE SOCIAL SERVICES FOR OUR YOUNGER GENERATION,+ SHE SAID.

A VARIETY SHOW FEATURING DRAMA, CHINESE MUSIC AND TRADITIONAL DANCES WAS ALSO STAGED TO MARK THE CLOSING OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME.

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