XN000022-1979-04-20 — Page 5

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1979

CHILDREN'S TV PROGRAMMES OFTEN UNSTIMULATING, SAYS S.N.T. *****

WHILE TELEVISION PROVIDES MANY EXCELLENT PROGRAMMES FOR CHILDREN, IT OFTEN DOES LITTLE TO STIMULATE THEIR IMAGINATION, ACCORDING TO THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES.

HE SAID TELEVISION HAS BECOME AN ALL-IMPORTANT MEANS OF COMMUNICATION AND HOME ENTERTAINMENT AND THE FOCAL POINT OF ATTENTION FOR MANY A GROWING CHILD.

+TELEVISION HAS ITS VALUE AND THERE ARE MANY EXCELLENT PROGRAMMES FOR CHILDREN,+ MR. AKERS-JONES SAID.

+BUT IT IS RECEPTIVE AND PASSIVE, IT REQUIRES LITTLE EFFORT AND OFTEN DOES LITTLE TO STIMULATE THE IMAGINATION OF CHILDREN.+

HE MADE THESE REMARKS TODAY (FRIDAY) WHEN OFFICIALLY OPENING THE +LEARNING THROUGH PAY, CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND ACTIVITIES+ EXHIBITION ORGANISED BY THE BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUBS ASSOCIATION AND CO-SPONSORED BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AND A NUMBER OF BOOK PUBLISHERS AND TOY MANUFACTURERS.

THE EXHIBITION AT THE OCEAN TERMINAL IS TO COMMEMORATE THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD.

+ IT IS REFRESHING TO SEE AN EXHIBITION WHERE WE ARE INTRODUCED TO A WIDE RANGE OF CHILDREN'S READING MATERIALS AND REMINDED OF THE MANY FORMS OF PLAY THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CHILD'S INITIATIVE AND IMAGINATION,+ MR. AKERS-JONES SAID.

PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR EFFORT IN ORGANISING SUCH AN INTERESTING EXHIBITION, HE SAID HE WAS CONFIDENT IT WOULD PROVIDE MUCH ENTERTAINMENT FOR MANY CHILDREN.

THE THREE-DAY EXHIBITION IS ALSO AIMED AT PARENTS AND TEACHERS TO SHOW THEM HOW TO FOSTER GOOD READING AND LEARNING HABITS IN CHILDREN AND TO INTRODUCE THEM TO HEALTHY READING MATERIALS AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES.

MORE THAN 25,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO VISIT THE EXHIBITION WHICH CLOSES ON SUNDAY AT 6 P.M.

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