XN000022-1981-06-24 — Page 12

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1981

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EXPLAINING THE INCREASES IN PASSENGER FARES AND FREIGHT CHARGES ON FERRY SERVICES OF THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY, MR TODD SAID THE PROFIT OF THE COMPANY IN 1980 WAS SLIGHTLY MORE THAN THREE PER CENT, WHICH WAS LESS THAN THAT EXPECTED.

*THE EFFECT OF THE INCREASES WILL SIMPLY BE TO ENABLE THE COMPANY TO MAINTAIN A RETURN OF THREE PER CENT IN 1981, + SAID MR TODD.

1982.

HE NOTED THAT A FURTHER INCREASE MIGHT BECOME NECESSARY IN

STUDENT GUIDANCE, COUNSELLING SERVICES TO BE EXPANDED

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THE HON COLVYN HAYE, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT STUDENT GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING SERVICES PLAY À ROLE IN AVERTING TRAGEDIES, BUT EMPHASISED THAT IT IS TOO EASY TO ASSUME THESE SERVICES ARE THE ONLY ANSWER TO SUCH TRAGEDY.

MR HAYE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER INCREASING THE PROVISION OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING SERVICES FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN VIEW OF THE RECENT SPATE OF SUICIDES AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDES AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN.

OF THE RECENT TRAGEDIES CONCERNING CHILDREN, THE DIRECTOR POINTED OUT, THREE HAD ACCESS TO GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING SERVICES IN THE IR SCHOOLS AND IN THE FOURTH AS IN THE OTHERS, TEACHERS WERE COMPLETELY AT A LOSS TO UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVATION.

+HAVING SAID THIS, LET ME ADD THAT GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING SERVICES FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE BEING EXPANDED AND THAT TEACHERS IN TRAINING AND IN SCHOOL ARE OFTEN REMINDED OF THEIR VITAL ROLE AS FIRST-LINE GUIDES AND COUNSELLORS,+ MR HAYE SAID.

THERE ARE NOW 132 STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICERS COVERING 665 PRIMARY SCHOOL SESSIONS (67 PER CENT OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOL POPULATION) AND IT IS INTENDED TO INCREASE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SGOS TO COVER ALL PRIMARY SCHOOLS BY MARCH 1982.

NINETY-ONE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS FROM VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ARE WORKING ON A PART-TIME BASIS COVERING 297 SECONDARY SCHOOLS (75 PER CENT OF THE SECONDARY SCHOOL POPULATION). THIS NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN SEPTEMBER 1981.

+THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES IN PROVIDING FULL-TIME COVERAGE OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF A SHORTAGE OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS, BUT THIS ISSUE IS NOW UNDER REVIEW. INDEED, THE ENTIRE PROGRAMME PLAN FOR PERSONAL SOCIAL WORK AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE EXAMINED IN DEPTH LATER THIS YEAR, + MR HAYE SAID.

THE DIRECTOR