XN000022-1984-12-14 — Page 22

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1934

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MORE HELP URGED FROM VOLUNTARY GROUPS

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KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR KEVIN MAK TODAY (FRIDAY) URGED VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS TO STRENGTHEN THE IR ROLE IN PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE STABILITY OF A COMMUNITY.

SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY SERVICE CENTRE, MR MAK SAID THIS ROLE IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO A COMMUNITY LIKE KWUN TONG AS A LARGE PROPORTION OF ITS POPULATION COME FROM THE WORKING CLASS.

+WHILE MOST OF THE PEOPLE WORK VERY HARD THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS ARE USUALLY CONGESTED, AND FAMILY PROBLEMS, PARTICULARLY AMONG THE YOUNGER MEMBERS, MUST BE WELL LOOKED AFTER TO HELP BUILD A STABLE AND HARMONIOUS COMMUNITY, HE ADDED.

MR MAK URGED LOCAL VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO RESIDENTS, AS THE DISTRICT'S POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO ABOUT 870 000 BY 1988.

+DUE TO THE HEAVY PRESSURE OF LIVING, IT IS QUITE UNDERSTANDABLE THAT PEOPLE IN THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL ARE NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN POLITICS, THEREFORE, SOCIAL WORKERS HAVE TO ASSUME ANOTHER IMPORTANT ROLE, THAT IS, TO AROUSE INTEREST AMONG THE MAN IN THE STREET' IN OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM, HE SAID.

+THROUGH THEIR DAILY CONTACT WITH RESIDENTS, SOCIAL WORKERS CAN EXPLAIN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN HONG KONG'S POLITICAL STRUCTURE AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO PARTICIPATE.+

MR MAK SAID SUCH A PROCESS WOULD TAKE TIME AND THE FIELD WORKER 3 HAD TO BE WELL EQUIPPED WITH THE SPIRIT AND OBJECTIVES OF THE POLITICAL CHANGES TO GUIDE THE PEOPLE TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

+TO PREPARE FOR THESE POLITICAL CHANGES, I CAN SEE THAT VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS CAN OFFER MUCH ASSISTANCE IN EDUCATING THE PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR CIVIC DUTIES AND RIGHTS IN THE GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT IN OUR FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM, HE SAID.

+THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE WILL BE PROMOTING CIVIC EDUCATION AMONG LOCAL RESIDENTS IN THE COMING YEAR, HE ADDED.

MR MAK ALSO PRAISED THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY SERVICE FOR ITS GOOD WORK IN PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES AND COMMUNITY BUILDING DURING THE CENTRE'S 30-YEAR HISTORY.

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