XN000022-1982-01-10 — Page 3

SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 1982

EVERYTHING JUST IS DONE

TO MAKE YOUTH CENTRES ATTRACTIVE

EVERYTHING PCCSIBLE MUST ZE DONE TO MAKE YOUTH CENTRES IN HONG KONG ATTRACTIVE TO AS WIDE A SPECTRUM OF YOUNG PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

THIS MUST BE DONE +HOT ONLY THROUGH IMPROVEMENTS TO THE IR PHYSICAL APPEARANCE BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THROUGH A CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING PROGRAMMES WHICH ARE IMAGINATIVE, WELL ORGANISED AND CEARED TO THE NEEDS OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE BEING SERVED, SHE SAID.

MRS CHAN WAS SPEAKING AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE SAILORS' AND SOLDIERS' HOME'S YOUTH CLUB IN WAN CHAI.

THE HURTURING OF YOUNG PEOPLE INTO INDEPENDENT AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS, CONFIDENT IN THEMSELVES AND THEIR PRINCIPLES AND READY TO HELP OTHERS LESS FORTUNATE THAN THEMSELVES WAS ONE SURE WAY OF CONTRIBUTING TO THE BUILDING OF A HEALTHY AND COMPASSIONATE SOCIETY, SHE SAID.

THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FACE ALMOST UNIQUE PRESSURES AND TEMPTATIONS IN THE OVER-CROWDED AND MATERIALISTIC ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY FIND THEMSELVES.

THE DANGERS OF THEIR GROWING UP MOULDED MORE BY A BELIEF IN MONEY AND MATERIAL ACQUISITIONS THAN IN THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL FULFILMENT AND RELATIONSHIPS ARE VERY REAL.

AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WAS CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO RE-SHAPE OUR POLICIES IN THE FIELD OF YOUTH AND COMMUNITY WORK TO ENSURE THAT TODAY'S MORE SOPHISTICATED AND BETTER EDUCATED YOUNGSTERS ARE ATTRACTED TO SOCIAL WELFARE YOUTH CENTRES AND GENUINELY INTERESTED IN AND MOTIVATED BY THE PROGRAMMES THEY PROVIDE, MRS CHAN SAID.

REFERRING TO THE SAILORS' AND SOLDIERS' HOME'S YOUTH CLUB, MRS CHAN SAID PLANNING FOR THIS CENTRE BEGAN IN EARLY 1979 AND ITS DOORS FIRST OPENED IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR, BRINGING TO 117 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF YOUTH CENTRES OPERATING THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY,

WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE JOCKEY CLUB, THE CENTRE HAS MADE A MOST PROMISING BEGINNING.

IT ALREADY HAS A MEMBERSHIP OF SOME 600 YOUNG PEOPLE AND NUMEROUS INTEREST GROUPS HAVE FORMED AND ACTIVITIES ORGANISED.

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/MRS CHAN