XN000022-1981-02-03 — Page 10

9

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1981

TUEN MUN'S BLOSSOM TIME

****

TUEN MUN RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO FIND A WIDE SELECTION OF PEACH BLOSSOMS AND GOODS FROM THE 70 STALLS OPERATING AT THE FIRST LUNAR NEW YEAR FAIR EVER HELD IN THEIR DISTRICT.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE FAIR AT TUEN MUN SAN HUI PLAYGROUND TODAY (TUESDAY), THE CHAIRMAN OF TUEN MUN RURAL COMMITTEE, MR LAU WONG-FAT SAID THE FAIR WOULD SAVE THE LOCAL PEOPLE FROM TRAVELLING A LONG DISTANCE TO ATTEND A YEAR-END FAIR AT OTHER DISTRICT.

THE FAIR WAS SPECIALLY SET UP TO KEEP PACE WITH THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF TUEN MUN, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (NORTH) OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR BOWEN LEUNG SAID.

TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE FAIR, MR LAU WONG-FAT, MR BOWEN LEUNG AND THE DISTRICT OFFICER OF TUEN MUN, MR BILLY LAM, PERFORMED THE RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY.

WELFARE +HOTLINE+ TO REMAIN OPEN IN LUNAR NEW YEAR

******

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S +HOTLINE+ SERVICE WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGHOUT THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.

-

THE HOTLINE - 3-432255 WILL BE MANNED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S SOCIAL WORK STAFF BETWEEN 1 PM AND 10 PM FROM THURSDAY TO SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 5-8).

CALLS MADE OUTSIDE THESE HOURS WILL BE MACHINE-RECORDED

FOR FOLLOW-UP ACTION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THE HOTLINE WAS INTRODUCED LAST OCTOBER TO SUPPLEMENT WELFARE SERVICES ALREADY AVAILABLE IN THE DEPARTMENT'S FIELD OFFICES AND WAS PRIMARILY FOR OUTSIDE OFFICE HOURS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE HOTLINE HAD SO FAR RECEIVED OVER 10 600 CALLS, MOST OF WHICH WERE MADE AFTER OFFICE HOURS.

HE SAID THE CALLS RECEIVED WERE GENERALLY OF FIVE AREAS: FAMILY PROBLEMS, CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOUR, CHILD CARE, REHABILITATION SERVICES AND FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

CALLERS WERE GIVEN PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE OVER THE PHONE ON FAMILY OR INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS, OR AN EXPLANATION OF AVAILABLE WELFARE SERVICES,

THE SPOKESMAN SAID PEOPLE USING THE HOTLINE DURING THE PERIODS WHEN MACHINE-RECORDING IS IN OPERATION SHOULD LEAVE THE IR NAMES, TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES.

OVERNIGHT CASES WHICH REQUIRE URGENT ATTENTION, SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION, HE ADDED.

/10

Page 10Page 11