XN000022-1979-12-07 — Page 7

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1979

ON

6

CHANCES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE

IN MANAGEMENT OF AFFAIRS BEING OPENED UP

******

THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONER NORTHWESTERN NEW TERRITORIES, MR. JAMES SWEETMAN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) IT WAS GOVERNMENT'S AIM THAT IN THE LONG RUN MÓRE OPPORTUNITIES WOULD BE OPENED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF AFFAIRS THAT CONCERNED THEM.

HE HOPED THAT A NEW COMMUNITY AND INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE TO BE BUILT IN TUEN MUN SOON WOULD BE A VENUE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR INITIATIVE THROUGH ASSISTING IN THE RUNNING OF THE CENTRE.

ADDRESSING STUDENTS AT THE JOINT SPEECH DAY OF MADAM LAU KAM LUNG SECONDARY SCHOOL AND NEI MING INSTITUTE, MR, SWEETMAN SAID: *ALL OF YOU MUST HAVE PARTICIPATED, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, IN SPORTS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND HAVE NO DOUBT ACQUIRED VALUABLE ATTITUDES TO LIFE FROM THE EXPERIENCES.

*THIS IS INDEED THE RATIONALE BEHIND GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO STEP OUT FROM THE CLASSROOM INTO THE WORLD OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL.

+WE HOPE THAT THROUGH ACTUAL PARTICIPATION YOU WILL FORMULATE OPINIONS OF THE NEEDS OF THE SOCIETY AND BECOME MORE AWARE OF THE PEOPLE AND EVENTS AROUND YOU.+

HOWEVER, HE ADVISED STUDENTS NOT TO STOP THERE.

+WE HAVE TRIED AND ARE STILL TRYING TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE ONE AND MANY MORE STEPS FORWARD TO BRING YOUR OPINIONS, VIEWS AND CRITICISMS TO OUR ATTENTION, MR. SWEETMAN SAID.

HE NOTED THAT STAFF AND STUDENTS OF BOTH SCHOOLS HAD ALWAYS BEEN ENERGETIC IN COMMUNITY AND CHARITABLE PROJECTS AND RECALLED THAT IT WAS THE NEI MING INSTITUTE WHICH HAD RAISED THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF MONEY IN A FUND-RAISING WALK FOR THE SHA TIN SPORTS CENTRE A FEW YEARS AGO.

+THIS IS A TRUE MANIFESTATION OF THE SUCCESS OF BUDDHIST EDUCATION,+ MR. SWEETMAN SAID.

+THE SCHOOLS TRULY LIVE UP TO THE IDEAL AND SPIRIT FOR WHICH THEY WERE FOUNDED.+

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