XN000022-1984-04-08 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, APRIL 8, 1984

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REPORT ON YOUTH CENTRES COMPLETED

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A REPORT CONTAINING PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL ARRANGEMENTS AND THE STANDARD OF SERVICE IN YOUTH CENTRES HAS RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

HE HOPED IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE PROPOSALS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE METHODIST AP LEI CHAU YOUTH CENTRE AT AP LEI CHAU ESTATE, MR CHAMBERS SAID THE REPORT, PRODUCED BY A COMMITTEE ON A RESEARCH PROJECT ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES. WAS THE RESULT OF +A GREAT DEAL OF WORK AND CAREFUL THOUGHT. +

HE SAID IT WAS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT THAT ESTATES WITH YOUNGER POPULATIONS, LIKE AP LEI CHAU, SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH YOUTH CENTRES TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP THEIR PERSONALITIES. AND CHARACTER, A SENSE OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AND SOCIAL APTITUDES.

+AFTER ALL, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE OUR INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE,+ HE SAID, ADDING THAT THEY MUST BE GUIDED TO DIRECT THEIR ENERGIES TOWARDS POSITIVE GOALS.

ON THE NEW CENTRE, HE SAID +FROM NOW ON THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS NEIGHBOURHOOD WILL HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN MEET THEIR FRIENDS AND SPEND THEIR LEISURE TIME CONSTRUCTIVELY.+

SOCIAL WORKERS WERE ALSO ON HAND TO HELP THOSE WITH PROBLEMS, HE SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY WAS TO PROVIDE ONE YOUTH CENTRE FOR EVERY 20 000 POPULATION, MR CHAMBERS SAID.

THIS MEANT ANOTHER SIMILAR CENTRE WOULD BE PROVIDED AT LEI TUNG ESTATE IN THE SAME DISTRICT.

HE PAID TRIBUTE TO CHRISTIAN CHURCHES FOR THE IR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE.

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