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OLD AGE IS A BONUS

HAYE

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SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1384

EVERY DAY IS A GIFT AND OLD AGE IS A BONUS. EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

THE DIRECTOR OF

OFFICIATING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE SIXTH MENTAL HEALTH WEEK ON THE THEME OF +MENTAL HEALTH AND OLD AGE+ ORGANISED BY THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG, HE SAID THAT ADVANCES IN MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY HAD SUCCEEDED IN ADDING YEARS TO LIFE, BUT IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT AND MEANINGFUL TO ADD LIFE TO YEARS.

OLD PEOPLE, MR HAYE SAID, SHOULD CONTINUE TO MAKE USE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO ENRICH THEIR LIVES, THOUGH IN A WAY DIFFERENT FROM THE YOUNG.

+ IT IS A TIME TO REFLECT ON THE YEARS WELL SPENT AND TO LOOK FORWARD TO PASSING ONE'S KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION, HE SAID.

ELDERLY PEOPLE SHOULD REMAIN ACTIVE, PARTICULARLY IN CONTRIBUTING THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES, HE SAID.

HOWEVER, MR HAYE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE LATER YEARS OF PEOPLE'S LIFE, IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT THOUGHTS OF HUMAN MORTALITY+ WOULD CROSS ONE'S MIND.

THIS AWARENESS OF DEATH, WHEN LOOKED AT POSITIVELY AND WITH ACCEPTANCE, WOULD GIVE ONE AN INCREASED SENSE OF URGENCY TO LIVE ONE'S LIFE TO THE UTMOST AND EVERY MOMENT TO THE FULLEST.

+ONLY THROUGH SUCH POSITIVE ATTITUDE WILL SOUND MENTAL HEALTH

OF THE OLD AGE BE ATTAINED.

+FOR THIS WILL HELP THEM GAIN A NEW INSIGHT AND NEW DEPTH OF UNDERSTANDING TO THE MEANING OF ONE'S LIFE, AS WELL AS ASSIST ONE IN A BETTER APPRECIATION OF THOSE AROUND US,+ MR HAYE SAID.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT TO ENABLE THE ELDERLY TO ATTAIN

A HEALTHY MIND, IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE YOUNG TO UNDERSTAND

THE DIFFERENT VALUE JUDGEMENT OF THE OLD PEOPLE.

+SUCH UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE CAN FOSTER CONTINUING POSITIVE ATTITUDES IN OUR SENIOR CITIZENS AND ENCOURAGE THEIR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE LIFE OF OUR SOCIETY,+ HE SAID.

MR HAYE PRESENTED PRIZES TO WINNERS OF AN ESSAY COMPETITION HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH WEEK DURING THE CEREMONY, AND COMMENDED THEM FOR THEIR ABILITY TO PROBE IN DEPTH AND REFLECT UPON THE WORLD OF THE IR ELDERS+.

THE COMPETITION SHOWED THAT HONG KONG YOUTHS NOT ONLY RECOGNISED AND UNDERSTOOD THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY, BUT WERE ALSO PREPARED TO DO WHATEVER WAS WITHIN THEIR CAPABILITY TO MEET SUCH NEEDS, HE ADDED.

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