XN000022-1980-06-21 — Page 2

SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1980

SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME STARTS TODAY *****

THE 1980 SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME

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THE 12TH IN THE SERIES WAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED TODAY (SATURDAY) BY MR ERIC CUMINE, STEWARD OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, AT THE SHA TIN RACE COURSE.

IN HIS OPENING SPEECH, MR CUMINE SAID THERE WILL BE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE IN THIS YEAR'S PROGRAMME, INCLUDING THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED AND CHILDREN LIVING IN THE REMOTE PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE PROGRAMME, HE SAID, IS AIMED AT GIVING YOUNG PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE PART IN HEALTHY RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS TO HELP THEM GAIN SELF-CONFIDENCE AND A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY.

*MANY OF THE EVENTS WILL ALSO PERMIT THEM TO USE THEIR INITIATIVE AND TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN DIFFERENT WAYS, HE ADDED.

THIS YEAR'S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME CONTAINS MORE THAN 8 000 SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO BE HELD IN VARIOUS PARTS OF HONG KONG IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.

THE ORGANISERS HAVE ARRANGED MORE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THIS SUMMER TO CATER TO INCREASING DEMAND.

ANOTHER SPEAKER, MR NORMAN OEI, CHAIRMAN OF THE CENTRAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR YOUTH RECREATION, CALLED ON PARENTS TO ENCOURAGE THEIR CHILDREN TO TAKE PART IN THE ACTIVITIES.

MR OEI ALSO THANKED THE JOCKEY CLUB FOR ITS GENEROUS DONATION OF $2.5 MILLION FOR THIS YEAR'S PROGRAMME.

AFTER SOUVENIR PENNANTS WERE PRESENTED, GUESTS WERE ENTERTAINED BY SCHOOL CHILDREN PERFORMING A NUMBER OF COLOURFUL FOLK DANCES. THEY WERE ALSO INVITED TO SING ALONG WITH THE YOUNGSTERS FROM THE MUSIC OFFICE WHICH IS TAKING PART FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE PROGRAMME THIS YEAR.

THE GUESTS LATER WATCHED SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR. THE DEMONSTRATIONS, PERFORMED BY EIGHT YOUTH GROUPS, INCLUDED THE MAKING OF RIBBON FLOWERS, BOOK MARKERS AND HANDICRAFT.

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