XN000022-1983-03-05 — Page 2

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1983

COMMUNITY CONCERN FOR PROBATIONERS

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VOLUNTEERS TAKING PART IN PROBATION WORK HELP TO SHOW TO THE PROBATIONERS THE COMMUNITY CONCERN FOR THEM AND ACCEPTANCE, WHICH IS PARAMOUNT TO THEIR REBUILDING OF CONFIDENCE IN THE IF ENDEAVOUR TO REFORM THEMSELVES.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY (SATURDAY) BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS EVELYN DOE, WHEN SHE PRESENTED CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION TO 18 PUBLIC-SPIRITED CITIZENS AT A CEREMONY HELD AT NEW WORLD HOTEL.

THE VOLUNTEERS, COMING FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, HAD HELPED REHABILITATE OFFENDERS UNDER THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS.

PAYING TRIBUTE TO THEM, MRS DOE SAID: +NOT ONLY HAVE THEY GIVEN THEIR TIME AND EFFORTS, THEY ARE ALSO A GREAT HELP IN DISPENSING WITH ANY MISUNDERSTANDING THE COMMUNITY MAY HAVE ABOUT OUR CURRENT APPROACH OF OFFERING COMMUNITY BASED TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS.+

SHE FELT IT IS WRONG TO SAY THAT PROBATION IS SOMETIMES TAKEN AS A +SOFT+ METHOD OF LETTING GO LAW-BREAKERS,

SHE SAID VOLUNTEER SERVICE, AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE, WAS IN GREAT ABUNDANCE AS WITNESSED IN THE GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING FORWARD TO JOIN THE SCHEME EVERY YEAR.

+ IT IS OUR EVERY WISH TO MAKE THE MOST PROFITABLE USE OF THIS RESOURCE FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF PROBATIONERS IN OUR CARE, SHE ADDED.

TO THE PROBATION OFFICERS, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG BAR ASSOCIATION, MR HENRY LITTON, SAID THEY HAVE TO BE SYMPATHETIC, YET NOT LOSE THE IR PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVITY,

+THIS IS A TALL ORDER,+ HE SAID.

+THE FACT THAT THE PROBATION SERVICE WORKS, AND WORKS

WELL, BEARS TESTIMONY TO THE HIGH PERSONAL QUALITIES OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE SERVICE, HE STRESSED.

GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR LONDON

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, LEFT FOR LONDON THIS (SATURDAY) EVENING. HE WAS SEEN OFF AT THE AIRPORT BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE; SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR S.Y. CHUNG AND SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ROGER LOBO.

SIR PHILIP IS ACTING GOVERNOR DURING SIR EDWARD'S ABSENCE.

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