XN000022-1983-06-25 — Page 6

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 1983

+I HOPE THAT INCREASINGLY THROUGH PUBLICITY AND EDUCATION, THE MORE FORTUNATE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WILL SHOW GREATER

TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING TOWARDS THE NEEDS OF EX-DRUG ADDICTS,+ SHE SAID.

HAPPILY, ALTERNATIVE PREMISES FOR THE HONG KONG CLUB HOUSE HAVE NOW BEEN FOUND AND WHEN IT BECOMES OPERATIONAL LATER THIS YEAR, ITS MEMBERS WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY IMPROVED FACILITIES.

MRS CHAN DESCRIBED THE RECIPIENTS OF THE BADGES OF MERIT AS +COURAGEOUS MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE REMAINED ABSTINENT FROM DRUGS FOR VARYING PERIODS.+

SHE SAID THE ROAD TO DELIVERY FROM DRUG ADDICTION WAS A LONG AND TORTUOUS ONE AND REQUIRED OF THE ADDICT NOT ONLY DETERMINATION AND PERSEVERANCE BUT ALSO AN ABILITY TO WITHSTAND CONSIDERABLE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISCOMFORT DURING THE WITHDRAWAL PROCESS.

+THE BADGES OF MERIT BEAR TESTIMONY TO A BATTLE COURAGEOUSLY FOUGHT AND WON AND THE RECIPIENTS CAN TAKE JUSTIFIABLE PRIDE IN THEIR ACHIEVEMENT,+ SHE ADDED.

THE CARITAS LOK HEEP CLUB HAS PROVIDED SERVICES FOR DRUG ADDICTS FOR 15 YEARS.

IT NOW HAS NEARLY 1 000 MEMBERS AND MORE THAN 100 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS.

CALL TO JOIN OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK FIELD

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PEOPLE WITH LONG EXPERIENCE IN LIFE AND SOCIAL WELFARE WERE TODAY (SATURDAY) URGED TO JOIN THE FIELD OF OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK.

THE APPEAL CAME FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S REGIONAL OFFICER (WEST KOWLOON), MRS ROSE GOODSTADT, WHEN SHE SPOKE AT THE OPENING OF THE HUNG HOM OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK TEAM OFFICE OF THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF YOUTH GROUPS.

SHE DESCRIBED OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK AS DIFFICULT BUT FULL OF CHALLENGES+.

SHE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT MORE WOULD JOIN THE RANKS OF OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK TEAMS.

/+AS YOUNG