XN000022-1978-11-04 — Page 3

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1978

SWD THANKS VOLUNTEERS FOR PROBATIONERS

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TWENTY-ONE CIVIC-MINDED CITIZENS WERE TODAY REWARDED FOR HELPING THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S PROBATION OFFICERS TO PROVIDE TREATMENT AND CARE TO YOUNG PROBATIONERS IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS.

AT A CEREMONY THIS AFTERNOON AT FURAMA HOTEL, THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT'S PROBATION AND CORRECTIONS DIVISION, MR. CARLOS LEUNG, PRESENTED EACH OF THEM WITH A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR COMMUNITY SERVICES.

THE VOLUNTEERS, FROM VARIOUS WALKS OF LIFE, HAVE JUST COMPLETED THEIR SIX-MONTH ASSIGNMENT UNDER THE DEPARTMENT'S VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS WHICH WAS INTRODUCED TWO YEARS AGO AS A COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECT.

THEY ARE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE AGED BETWEEN 17 AND 29. THE GROUP INCLUDES STUDENTS, CLERKS, SOCIAL WORKERS, TEACHERS, COMPUTER OPERATOR, SHIPPING SUPERVISOR, LAND INSPECTOR AND WOMAN POLICE INSPECTOR.

IN THANKING THE VOLUNTEERS, PRINCIPAL PROBATION OFFICER, MR. PETER LIN, PRAISED THEM FOR THEIR COMMUNITY SPIRIT IN JOINING THE SCHEME AND GIVING UP THEIR FREE TIME TO HELP YOUNG PROBATIONERS THROUGH TUITION, SOCIALISATION AND ADVICE.

AT PRESENT, 13 OTHER VOLUNTEERS ARE CARRYING OUT THEIR ASSIGNMENT WITH PROBATION OFFICERS, AND ANOTHER 59 HAVE JUST UNDERGONE AN ORIENTATION COURSE AND ARE AWAITING ASSIGNMENT.

AT THE CEREMONY, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, MRS. LAU NG HO-YEE, ALSO GAVE A TALK ON THE CHARACTER ISTICS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS.

MRS. LAU SAID YOUNG OFFENDERS WERE FOUND TO BE CHARACTER ISTICALLY BACKWARD SOCIALLY AND INTELLECTUALLY,

SHE SAID THEY USUALLY TEND TO COME FROM POOR HOMES WITH PARENTS WHO DO NOT EXERCISE ADEQUATE SUPERVISION AND SOME OF THEM HAVE SHOWN TO HAVE DIFFICULTY IN ADJUSTING TO SCHOOL LIFE OR THEIR PLACE OF WORK BEFORE THEY COMMITTED AN OFFENCE.

MRS. LAU SAID THAT YOUNG OFFENDERS SHOULD BE GUIDED AND INFLUENCED BY A MODEL OF PROPER BEHAVIOUR IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE IR OLD WAYS.

IN THIS RESPECT, SHE SAID, THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS MAY BE ́ INVALUABLE.

SHE SUGGESTED CERTAIN PREVENTIVE MEASURES WHICH INCLUDE REMEDIAL EDUCATION SERVICE FOR THOSE WHO SHOW AN EARLY SIGN OF MAL-ADJUSTMENT IN SCHOOL, AS WELL AS EDUCATING ADOLESCENTS IN PARENTHOOD AND CHILD-HANDLING.

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