XN000022-1981-10-14 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1981

MORE CENTRES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

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THE GOVERNMENT AIMS AT PROVIDING 11 NEW CHILDREN'S AND YOUTH CENTRES A YEAR, PREFERABLY AS COMBINED FACILITIES, IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING 216 SUCH CENTRES, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON ERIC HO, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN ADDITION, A COMMITTEE WAS STUDYING THE SOCIAL WORK CONTENT IN THE PROGRAMMES IN THE EXISTING CENTRES, WITH A VIEW TO RECOMMENDING HOW THEY COULD BE STRENGTHENED AND DEVELOPED, HE SAID.

THE STUDY IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED EARLY NEXT YEAR. MR HO ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT AIMS ALSO TO PROVIDE 15 MORE COMMUNITY CENTRES, EIGHT ESTATE COMMUNITY CENTRES (OR AREA CENTRES) AND 16 COMMUNITY HALLS (OR NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRES) IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

+OUR COMMUNITY AND YOUTH SERVICES AIM TO PROVIDE MUTUAL CARE AND RESPONSIBILITY, LEADERSHIP, CONCERN AND PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNAL PROBLEMS, + MR HO SAID,

+COMMUNITY CENTRE FACILITIES HELP DEVELOP COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND AN AWARENESS OF LOCAL NEED, AND ARE USED TO ACCOMMODATE A WIDE VARIETY OF SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, INCLUDING VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

+CENTRES ARE PLANNED IN RELATION TO POPULATION,+ MR HO SAID.

ON PERSONAL SOCIAL WORK AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, MR HO SAID THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE THREE MAIN STREAMS IN THIS PROGRAMME SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK, OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK AND FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION WAS BEING REVIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF ACTUAL FIELD EXPERIENCE.

THIS PROGRAMME AIMS TO PROMOTE POSITIVE SOCIAL ATTITUDES AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, THROUGH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR ROLES IN THE FAMILY, SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY,

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