XN000022-1980-10-05 — Page 4

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1980

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HE APPEALED FOR CO-OPERATION FROM ALL WHO VISIT THE COUNTRYSIDE FROM NOW ON TO PREVENT FIRES AND TO TAKE SPECIAL CARE DURING THE CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL PERIOD.

MEANWHILE, TAI PO HAS TAKEN A LEAD IN THE CAMPAIGN TO HIGHLIGHT THE FIRE RISK POSED BY HUNG MING BALLOONS,

A LOCAL RESIDENT, MR CHAN WAI-KAI, 29, HAS DESIGNED A POSTER ADVISING THE PUBLIC NOT TO RELEASE BALLOONS BECAUSE THEY ARE DANGEROUS.

ONE THOUSAND COPIES OF THE POSTER HAVE BEEN PUT UP IN PROMINENT SITES THROUGHOUT TAI PO DISTRICT.

+THE THREAT TO THE LOCAL COUNTRYSIDE IS BEING TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY, A DISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID.

FIRE WATCH PATROLS HAD BEEN SET UP IN LAM CHUEN AND PAN CHUNG, HIGH FIRE RISK AREAS.

THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HAS ALSO WRITTEN TO THE HEUNG YEE KUK SEEKING THE CO-OPERATION OF ALL RURAL COMMITTEES AND VILLAGERS TO PREVENT FIRES.

VOLUNTEERS JOIN SCHEME TO HELP PROBATIONERS

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SIXTY-FIVE PUBLIC-SPIRITED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FROM PRACTICALLY ALL WALKS OF LIFE HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO JOIN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS.

THE VOLUNTEERS ATTENDED AN ORIENTATION COURSE THIS AFTERNOON WHICH PREPARED THEM TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S PROBATION OFFICERS TO REHABILITATE YOUNG OFFENDERS.

THEY WILL HELP THE PROBATIONERS SOLVE THEIR SOCIAL PROBLEMS THROUGH FRIENDSHIP AND CARE, AT THE SAME TIME AS THEY ARE GUIDED IN PROPER BEHAVIOURAL DEVELOPMENT BY THE REGULAR PROBATION OFFICERS.

IN THE ORIENTATION COURSE, THE VOLUNTEERS WERE GIVEN AN INSIGHT INTO THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF PROBATION SERVICE, THEY WILL BE MATCHED LATER WITH PROBATIONERS ACCORDING TO MUTUAL INTEREST.

THEY MAY HELP PROBATIONERS ACQUIRE HEALTHY HOBBIES BY ACCOMPANYING THEM IN RECREATIONAL OR CULTURAL ACTIVITIES. OTHERS WHO ARE PROFESSIONALS CAN PROVIDE TUITION OR IMPART KNOWLEDGE IN THE IR FIELD OF SPECIALTY.

AT A CEREMONY HELD IN THE DUKE OF WINDSOR SOCIAL SERVICE BUILDING BEFORE THE COURSE STARTED, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS EVELYN DOE, WELCOMED THE NEW VOLUNTEERS AND THANKED THEM FOR GIVING UP THEIR FREE TIME TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCHEME.

/MRS DOE