XN000022-1980-11-14 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1980

+WHETHER OR NOT A SCHOOL ADOPTS A MORAL EDUCATION SYLLABUS, IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT THE PRINCIPAL AND STAFF. THROUGH THE ETHOS, TRADITION AND ORGANISATION OF THE SCHOOL, SHOULD AIM AT CREATING A COMMUNITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE WELL-INFORMED ON MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE, OF RIGHT AND WRONG AND WHO ARE SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS: WHO ARE, IN ESSENCE, A CARING COMMUNITY, ✦ HE SAID.

TEACHERS SHOULD PROCEED BY WAY OF EXAMPLE: A PERSONAL EXAMPLE WHICH CAN AND SHOULD BE THERE ALL THE TIME WHATEVER THE SUBJECT THAT IS BEING TAUGHT, WHETHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM.

SCHOOLS TOO, SIR JACK ADDED, SHOULD TRY TO ENSURE THAT THE PUPILS ARE EXPOSED AT SOME STAGE TO THE SPIRITUAL HERITAGE OF THE PAST, NCLUDING THE RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS AND THE OLD CHINESE VIRTUES.

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SIR JACK PRAISED THE BOARDING SCHOOL SYSTEM, ADOPTED BY ST STEPHEN'S, WHICH, HE SAID, ALLOWS THE PRINCIPAL AND STAFF TO HAVE MORE TIME AT THEIR DISPOSAL TO ORGANISE A WIDE RANGE OF EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND TO INSTIL A COMMUNITY SPIRIT AMONG THE PUPILS.

LACK OF GOVERNMENT-VOLUNTARY SECTOR PARTNERSHIP REFUTED

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THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, TODAY REFUTED RECENT ACCUSATIONS THAT THERE WAS LACK OF CONSULTATION AND GENUINE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY SECTOR IN WELFARE SERVICES.

SPEAKING ON +GOVERNMENT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR+ AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON NORTH, SHE SAID THAT ON THE WHOLE, THE GOVERNMENT ENJOYED A SATISFACTORY WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH MOST VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ALTHOUGH THERE WERE BOUND TO BE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION IN A FIELD AS DISPARATE AS SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES.

SHE SAID THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ALWAYS SOUGHT TO IMPROVE THIS RELATIONSHIP AND SHE WELCOMED CLOSER CONTACTS BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT AND INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES.

REFERRING TO THE CRITICISMS MADE BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE IN SEPTEMBER, MRS CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT BELIEVE THIS REFLECTED THE MAJORITY VIEW OF THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR AS ITS MANY CONTACTS WITH AGENCIES SUGGESTED OTHERWISE.

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SHE NOTED THAT A SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH COMPRISED MAINLY UNOFFICIALS INCLUDING AGENCY HEADS, HAD REFUTED THE CRITICISMS AS UNFOUNDED AND PRESENTING A DISTORTED PICTURE AND HAD STRESSED THEIR VIEW THAT +THERE HAS BEEN A GENUINE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION AND PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR ON WELFARE MATTERS+.

/MRS CHAN