XN000022-1981-09-19 — Page 2

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1981

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HK FISHERMEN PUT STRESS ON EDUCATION

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EDUCATION FOR FISHERMEN'S CHILDREN IS BECOMING MORE

IMPORTANT AS FISHING CRAFT AND EQUIPMENT BECOME MORE SOPHISTICATED AND FISHING METHODS INCREASINGLY TECHNICAL, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR JACK CATER, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

SIR JACK EXPLAINED THAT THE SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE FISHERMEN, DICTATED BY THE NATURE OF THEIR LIFE AND WORK COULD NOT READILY BE MET BY THE SCHOOLS PROVIDED FOR LAND PEOPLE, AND THUS THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION (FMO) ENTERED THE FIELD OF EDUCATION.

SIR JACK WAS SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL JOINT GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR THE FMO SECONDARY AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS AT THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL.

HE SAID HE WAS GRATIFIED TO SEE THAT FROM QUITE MODEST BEGINNINGS THERE WERE NOW 14 FMO SCHOOLS, INCLUDING ONE SECONDARY SCHOOL, PROVIDING EDUCATION FOR SOME 4 000 PUPILS. FURTHER EXPANSION TO MEET INCREASED DEMAND FOR PLACES WAS PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR.

SIR JACK RECALLED HIS ASSOCIATION WITH THE FISHING COMMUNITY, WHICH STARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PACIFIC WAR.

SIR JACK SAID THAT DURING A VISIT TO ONE VILLAGE WHERE HE HAD A MEETING WITH FISHERMEN'S REPRESENTATIVES, HE WAS TOLD THAT WHAT THEY WANTED FIRST AND FOREMOST WAS AN EDUCATION FOR THE IR CHILDREN, WHEN ONE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THE FIRST REQUIREMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR FOOD OR FISHING GEAR,

THE FISHERMEN HAD RECOGNISED THAT IN THE LONGER TERM, THE ANSWER WAS NOT HAND-OUTS, BUT SELF-HELP SELF-HELP THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF EDUCATION, HE SAID.

+I HAVE FOLLOWED THE PROGRESS OF THE FMO STUDENTS AND THE IR VARIOUS ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THESE MANY YEARS. APART FROM DOING WELL ACADEMICALLY, THEY HAVE BROUGHT CREDIT TO THE FMO SCHOOLS BY THE IR SUCCESS IN LOCAL SPORTS COMPETITIONS AND THE IR EXCELLENCE IN ART COMPETITIONS BOTH LOCALLY AND ABROAD.

+AND MANY HAVE GONE ON TO HIGHER EDUCATION NOT ONLY HERE IN HONG KONG, BUT ALSO OVERSEAS.+

LADY CATER LATER PRESENTED CERTIFICATES AND PRIZES TO THE PUPILS.

THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN, IN A SPEECH EARLIER, PAID TRIBUTE TO SIR JACK.

+ IT IS LARGELY DUE TO SIR JACK, WHO LAID THE FOUNDATIONS OF SO MANY INNOVATIONS THAT HAVE BENEFITED FISHERMEN, INCLUDING THE FMO SCHOOLS, AND SUBSEQUENTLY BUILT ON THESE FOUNDATIONS OVER THE YEARS, THAT THE FISHING INDUSTRY IS WHAT IT IS TODAY.+

MR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID SIR JACK AND LADY CATER. WHO WILL BE LEAVING HONG KONG IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN BY THE FISHING COMMUNITY.

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