XN000022-1979-08-05 — Page 2

SUNDAY, AUGUST 5, 1979

CALL FOR MORE SUPPORT FOR SCOUTING

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY (SUNDAY) CALLED FOR MORE SUPPORT FOR THE PROMOTION OF SCOUTING TO PROVIDE TRAINING, CHARACTER BUILDING AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE YEARS TO COME.

HE MADE THE APPEAL WHEN OFFICIATING AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE TWO DEVELOPMENT UNITS OF THE HONG KONG SCOUT ASSOCIATION THE ROVER SCOUT CREW AND THE LEADER RECRUITMENT CREW - AT THE FUNG KAI PUBLIC SCHOOL, SHEUNG SHUI.

ADDRESSING THE GATHERING, MR. AKERS-JONES PAID TRIBUTE TO THE ASSOCIATION FOR HAVING ACHIEVED GREAT SUCCESS IN THE EXPANSION OF SCOUTING IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.

+AND TODAY'S PARADE MARKS ANOTHER STEP FORWARD IN THIS PROCESS, HE SAID.

+THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED WITHOUT THE STRONG SUPPORT OF THE PROMINENT COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ARE WITH US TODAY.

+I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE THIS SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO JOIN YOU SO THAT IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SCOUTING WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE TRAINING, CHARACTER BUILDING AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE YEARS TO COME. HE SAID.

MR. AKERS-JONES NOTED THAT THE SCOUT MOVEMENT WOULD PLAY A LEADING ROLE IN THE DEVELOPING TOWNS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+I AM THEREFORE VERY PLEASED TO KNOW THAT THE SCOUT DEVELOPMENT WORKING PARTY UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF MR. STEPHEN WONG HAD COMPLETED A DRAFT PLAN FOR SCOUTING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES,+ HE ADDED.

MORE THAN 300 YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, RECENTLY RECRUITED TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE ROVER SCOUT CREW AND THE LEADER RECRUITMENT CREW, TOOK PART AT THE CEREMONY.

THE UNITS ARE TWO OF THE SCOUT ASSOCIATION'S MANY PILOT SCHEMES WHICH AIM TO COPE WITH THE EVER INCREASING NEED OF THE COMMUNITY AND TO PROVIDE BETTER SCOUTING FOR MORE YOUNG PEOPLE AGED BETWEEN 17 AND 25.

UNDER ITS SEVEN-YEAR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, THE ASSOCIATION PLANS TO INCREASE ITS MEMBERSHIP TO 50,000 BY 1982.

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