XN000022-1981-05-28 — Page 5

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1981

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP REFORM OFFENDERS

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PUBLIC-SPIRITED CITIZENS ARE BEING SOUGHT BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO JOIN ITS VOLUNTEER SCHEME TO BEFRIEND AND HELP REFORM OFFENDERS PUT ON PROBATION.

INTRODUCED IN 1976 AS A COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECT, THE SCHEME ENABLES VOLUNTEERS TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE

DEPARTMENT'S PROBATION OFFICERS TO COUNSEL PROBATIONERS, PARTICULARLY THE YOUNG ONES.

AS FROM MONDAY (JUNE 1), ANY PERSON AGED 21 OR ABOVE, WITH A SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION, A MATURE AND SOCIABLE PERSONALITY, AS WELL AS A FLAIR TO HELP OTHERS, MAY APPLY.

APPLICATION FORMS MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE SCHEME OFFICE IN CAUSEWAY BAY MAGISTRACY BUILDING, SEVENTH FLOOR, HONG KONG (TEL. NO. 5-701474).

MR PETER LIN, OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE SCHEME, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) VOLUNTEERS HAD A SIGNIFICANT ROLE TO PLAY IN WIDENING PROBATIONÉRS' SOCIAL CONTACTS AND HELPING RE INTEGRATE THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY.

APART FROM BEING THEIR FRIENDS, HE SAID, VOLUNTEERS MAY HELP PROBATIONERS DEVELOP MEANINGFUL HOBBIES BY ACCOMPANYING THEM IN RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS PICNICKING, SWIMMING OR PHOTOGRAPHY.

OTHERS, CAN PROVIDE TUITION OR KNOWLEDGE IN THEIR FIELD OF SPECIALTY.

MR LIN SAID THAT VOLUNTEERS, WOULD BE BRIEFED ON THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF PROBATION SERVICE.

ARRANGEMENTS WOULD THEN BE MADE TO MATCH THEM WITH PROBATIONERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE IR AREAS OF INTEREST AND ABILITY, HE SAID.

EACH ASSIGNMENT WOULD NORMALLY LAST SIX MONTHS UNDER CLOSE LAISION WITH THE PROBATION OFFICER HANDLING THE CASE, HE ADDED.

ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SCHEME ARE WELCOME AND MAY BE MADE WITH MR LIN ON TELEPHONE NO. 5-788563.

OLD PEOPLE'S HOME PLANNED FOR YUEN LONG

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WITH ACTIVE SUPPORT FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE POK OF HOSPITAL PLANS TO BUILD A $7.4 MILLION CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOME FOR OLD PEOPLE IN YUEN LỌNG, NEW TERRITORIES.

WORK ON THE PROJECT WAS TODAY (THURSDAY) OUTLINED BY A GROUP OF THE HOSPITAL'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, LED BY THE CHAIRMAN, MR DAVID K.M. LAI, DURING A COURTESY CALL ON THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE.

/MR LAI