XN000022-1980-03-29 — Page 3

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SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1980

GOVERNOR LAUNCHES SALVATION ARMY'S

50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

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THE GOVERNMENT, IN ADDITION TO ITS OWN DIRECT EFFORTS, MUST CONTINUE TO RELY ON THE UNSTINTING EFFORTS OF PEOPLE LIKE THE SALVATION ARMY TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE SOCIAL SERVICES, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING AT THE SALVATION ARMY'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS LAUNCHING CEREMONY IN THE OCEAN TERMINAL, SIR MURRAY SAID ITS ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIAL SERVICES IN HONG KONG WERE OF THE HIGHEST ORDER AND MUCH VALUED BY ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN IT FIRST BEGAN HERE IN 1930, HONG KONG'S POPULATION WAS A BARE 850 000 AND ITS OPERATION WAS COMPARATIVELY SMALL.

+BUT IT HAS RESPONDED SPLENDIDLY TO THE SWOLLEN NEEDS OF SWOLLEN POPULATION AND ITS ACTIVITIES NOW INCLUDE SIX SCHOOLS, FOUR CLINICS AND 43 CENTRES FOR CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE, THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED, SIR MURRAY SAID.

FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH:

+I AM VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE THIS MORNING TO CELEBRATE WITH THIS GROUP OF DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN 50 YEARS OF DEVOTED AND IMAGINATIVE SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

+WHEN THE SALVATION ARMY FIRST BEGAN HERE IN 1930, HONG KONG'S POPULATION WAS A BARE 850 000. ITS OPERATION WAS COMPARATIVELY SMALL. BUT IT HAS RESPONDED SPLENDIDLY TO THE SWOLLEN NEEDS OF A SWOLLEN POPULATION AND ITS ACTIVITIES NOW INCLUDE SIX SCHOOLS, FOUR CLINICS AND 43 CENTRES FOR CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE, THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED. THIS EXPANSION GOES ON AND INCLUDES A PURPOSE-BUILT HOME FOR THE MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED. THE SALVATION ARMY IS AN ORGANISATION OF WORLDWIDE RENOWN, HERE, IN HONG KONG, ITS ACHIEVEMENTS AND ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIAL SERVICES ARE OF THE HIGHEST ORDER AND MUCH VALUED BY ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY.

+THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE SOCIAL SERVICES IS CLEARLY DEFINED IN THE SERIES OF WHITE PAPERS PUBLISHED IN THE 70S. TO REALISE THESE AMBITIOUS GOALS, IN ADDITION TO ITS OWN DIRECT EFFORTS THE GOVERNMENT MUST CONTINUE TO RELY ON THE UNSTINTING EFFORTS OF PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF WHO ARE PREPARED TO WORK FOR THE COMMON GOOD. I AM SURE THAT THE SALVATION ARMY WILL CONTINUE TO RISE TO THE OCCASION, AS IT HAS TO SO MANY OTHERS IN SO MANY LANDS.

+ CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND WISH YOU ALL SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE.+

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