XN000022-1984-06-13 — Page 25

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1984

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MP'S SEE WELFARE SERVICES * 1x

MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS SUB-COMMITTEE ON RACE RELATIONS AND IMMIGRATION TODAY LOOKED AT GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY WELFARE SERVICES.

THE VISITORS WENT FIRST TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S LAI CHI KOK FIELD UNIT WHERE THEY SAW STAFF DEALING WITH ENQUIRIES AND APPLICATIONS RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, OLD AGE AND DISABILITY ALLOWANCES.

THE MP'S THEN WENT TO THE LAI KOK COMMUNITY HALL WHICH SERVES AS A FOCAL POINT FOR CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. THEY LATER VISITED THE LAI KOK HOSTEL FOR THE ELDERLY WHERE MORE THAN 80 PEOPLE LIVE. THE CENTRE IS RUN BY CARITAS, A VOLUNTARY AGENCY SUBVENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

EARLIER THE MP'S WERE BRIEFED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS.

FARMERS TO VISIT UNITED STATES

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FIFTEEN FARMERS WILL LEAVE ON FRIDAY FOR THE UNITED STATES ON A STUDY TOUR ORGANISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND THE FEDERATION OF VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES.

THE TOUR, THE SEVENTH SINCE 1977, WILL LAST TWO WEEKS. A CEREMONY PRIOR TO THE GROUP'S DEPARTURE, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN, PRESENTED A BANNER TO THE FARMERS,

AT

HE TOLD THE GATHERING THAT THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THESE TOURS WERE TO ENABLE FARMERS TO OBSERVE ADVANCED CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES, TO BROADEN THEIR OUTLOOK AND TO GET AN INSIGHT INTO THE LIFE-STYLE OF THE IR COUNTERPARTS ELSEWHERE.

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+THE TOURS ALSO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE EXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE BETWEEN LOCAL AND OVERSEAS FARMERS, DR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID.

PREVIOUS TOURS HAD BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL, HE SAID, AND FARMERS HAD BROUGHT BACK USEFUL TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW WHICH THEY HAD SHARED WITH OTHERS.

/+THIS IS