XN000022-1985-03-08 — Page 9

FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1985

SOCIAL WORK GROWTH MATCHED BY CIVIC SPIRIT - GOVERNOR

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SOLID PROGRESS IN IMPROVING HONG KONG'S SOCIAL SERVICES IN RECENT YEARS HAD BEEN MATCHED BY A STEADY GROWTH IN COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND PARTICIPATION, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

AND THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER TO MAKE HONG KONG A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN, SIR EDWARD SAID AT THE FOUNDATION STONE LAYING CEREMONY OF THE CHINESE YMCA HONG KONG CENTRE AT HARBOUR ROAD IN WAN CHAI.

HOWEVER, HE CAUTIONED THAT GOVERNMENT EFFORTS ALONE WOULD NOT BE SUFFICIENT, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND ORGANISATIONS LIKE THE CHINESE YMCA PLAYED A VITAL SUPPORTING ROLE.

+THIS FINE CENTRE IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THE CONTRIBUTION THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR CAN MAKE, HE ADDED.

SIR EDWARD SAID THIS NEW HONG KONG CENTRE WAS AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT. THE BUILDING, WHICH WOULD BE 21 STOREYS WHEN COMPLETED, WOULD SERVE BOTH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND VISITING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM OVERSEAS.

THE GROUP AND COMMUNITY WORK SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED IN THE CENTRE WOULD GREATLY BENEFIT CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS. THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE SERVICES WOULD ENCOURAGE A HEALTHY USE OF LEISURE TIME AND PROMOTE A WIDER AWARENESS OF THE WAY IN WHICH YOUNG PEOPLE COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BETTER COMMUNITY.

THE CENTRE WOULD ALSO HOUSE A 300-ROOM HOSTEL PROVIDING REASONABLY PRICED ACCOMMODATION FOR TRAVELLERS FROM MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD; AND THEREBY PROMOTE GREATER GOODWILL AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT INTERNATIONAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS, HE SAID.

SIR EDWARD PAID TRIBUTE TO THE ASSOCIATION'S FORMIDABLE FUND-RAISING ACHIEVEMENT WHICH HAD ENABLED IT TO FINANCE THIS PROJECT THROUGH ITS OWN EFFORTS AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF MANY GENEROUS DONORS.

THE TOTAL BUILDING COST IS ESTIMATED TO BE $70 MILLION.

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