XN000022-1984-07-16 — Page 14

MONDAY, JULY 16, 1984

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CHILDREN'S ARTWORK ON DISPLAY

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THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DENIS BRAY, TOURED AN ART EXHIBITION AT THE HENRY G. LEONG YAU MA TEI COMMUNITY CENTRE TODAY TO SEE SOME OF THE 300 PIECES OF WORK PRODUCED BY MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN.

ON ARRIVAL AT THE DISPLAY, WHICH WAS ENTITLED +MY ART PIECES+, MR BRAY WAS MET BY MR ALEXANDER FUNG, REGIONAL OFFICER (WEST KOWLOON) OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER ORGANISING BODIES.

MR BRAY SAW A WIDE VARIETY OF HANDWORK INCLUDING PAINTING, POTTERY, PLASTER AND SCULPTURE. THE EXHIBITS WERE PRODUCED BY CHILDREN FROM THE ACTIVITIES CENTRES, SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS AND SHELTER WORKSHOPS.

LATER, HE WENT TO SEE AN ART CARNIVAL, WHERE HE WATCHED A GROUP OF MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN LEARNING SILK SCREENING, CARVING AND OTHER HANDICRAFT SKILLS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF VOLUNTEER WORKERS.

MR BRAY ALSO CHATTED WITH SOME OF THE CHILDREN THERE.

THE TWO-DAY EXHIBITION, WHICH STARTED YESTERDAY (JULY 15), PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HUNDREDS OF MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN TO DEMONSTRATE THE IR SKILLS THROUGH A SERIES OF STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES. IT HAS ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF VISITORS, INCLUDING THE FAMILIES OF HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, SCHOOL TEACHERS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND PROFESSIONALS FROM OTHER RELATED FIELDS.

IT WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HENRY G. LEONG YAU MA TEI COMMUNITY CENTRE, HONG KONG MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN SCHOOL TEACHER'S ASSOCIATION, VOLUNTEER SERVICE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION AND YAU MA TEI/TSIM SHA TSUI CULTURE AND ARTS ASSOCIATION FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN AS PART OF THIS YEAR'S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME.

TODAY'S VISIT WAS THE SECOND IN A SERIES ARRANGED FOR SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND UMELCO MEMBERS DURING THE SUMMER TO GAIN BETTER INSIGHT INTO THIS YEAR'S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME.

APART FROM OFFERING A GREAT VARIETY OF HEALTHY RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO YOUNGSTERS IN HONG KONG, THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME ALSO LOOKS AFTER THE INTEREST OF SPECIAL TARGET GROUPS SUCH AS THE DISABLED, ORPHANS AND UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN.

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