XN000022-1981-07-04 — Page 7

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1981

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SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME STARTS IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT

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THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS EVELYN DOE TODAY (SATURDAY) CUT THE RIBBON AT A GRAND OPENING CEREMONY AT OCEAN PARK TO START OFF SOME 500 SUMMER RECREATION EVENTS FOR YOUTH IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ON HONG KONG ISLAND.

MRS DOE WAS AMONG THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A VARIETY SHOW FOR HUNDREDS OF DISABLED AND YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE DISTRICT.

THE SHOW FEATURED PERFORMANCES OF FOLK SONGS AND DANCES, SIGN-LANGUAGE SONGS FOR THE DEAF, SINGING BY A CHILDREN'S CHOIR, MARTIAL ARTS, PARROT SHOW, AND WHEELCHAIR DANCE BY DISABLED PEOPLE.

SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, MRS DOE UNDERLINED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMMES WHICH HELPED YOUNG PEOPLE TO DEVELOP SELF-CONFIDENCE, LEADERSHIP AND POTENTIALS SO AS TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST TO SOCIAL CHANGES.

+ IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY ARE GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN MEANINGFUL GROUP ACTIVITIES THROUGH WHICH THEY CAN OFFSET PRESSURES FROM ACADEMIC STUDIES, SHE SAID.

SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMMES ARE GEARED TOWARDS THIS NEED, SHE SAID, AND HAVE GAINED INCREASING SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

MRS DOE SAID THE GOVERNMENT ALSO RECOGNISED THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCH ACTIVITIES AND, TOGETHER WITH THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, HAD BEEN MAKING INCREASING ALLOCATIONS EACH YEAR FOR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMMES.

THIS YEAR, SHE ADDED, TOTAL ALLOCATIONS AMOUNT TO $870 000.

THE VARIOUS RECREATION EVENTS ORGANISED FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT IN THE COMING WEEKS WILL INCLUDE YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING CAMPS, VOLUNTEER GUIDANCE SERVICE, COMMUNITY STUDIES, TRANSFER SERVICE OF USED BOOKS, VARIETY SHOWS AND COMPETITIVE GAMES.

OF THE 500 EVENTS, MRS DOE SAID, OVER ONE-THIRD WILL BE OF TRAINING AND STUDY NATURE, REFLECTING A NEW TREND THAT SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMMES ARE NOT PURELY FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES, BUT ARE INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS AS WELL.

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