XN000022-1986-02-26 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1986

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FLEXIBLE RESPONSE TO YOUTH NEEDS URGED

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THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY SHOULD ENSURE THAT EDUCATION, INSTITUTIONS, WORK AND PLAY REMAIN FLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE CHANGING NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT A ZONTA CLUB OF HONG KONG LUNCHEON FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE ZONTA STUDENT PROJECT AWARD, SHE NOTED THAT 20 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION FELL BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND 24 AND WERE A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.

+TODAY'S GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS, AND A DIFFERENT SENSE OF MORALITY, VALUES AND ENTITLEMENT THAT MANY OF US AS PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS MAY FIND SOMEWHAT STRANGE AND PERHAPS EVEN UNACCEPTABLE.

+ IT IS FUTILE TO BEMOAN THE PASSING OF TRADITIONAL BELIEFS AND VALUES,+ SHE SAID.

SHE EXPLAINED THAT CHANGES HAVE OCCURRED IN HONG KONG SOCIETY, AND FOR THE MOST PART, THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES FOR THE BETTER.

IT WAS

WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE WERE DISCUSSED IN OPEN FORUMS OFTEN IN THE CONTEXT OF SOME SOCIAL PROBLEMS, THAT IS A LACK OF CONCERN FOR OTHERS, INABILITY TO COPE WITH SCHOOL WORK, TRIAD INFLUENCES, DRUG ADDICTION, PREOCCUPATION WITH MATERIAL ACQUISITIONS.

+ IT IS OF COURSE ENTIRELY RIGHT THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS AND SHOULD TAKE POSITIVE STEPS TO COUNTERACT THEIR INFLUENCE.

+AT THE SAME TIME, WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THE MAJORITY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, DESPITE SOMETIMES ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES AND ENVIRONMENT, GROW INTO WELL-ADJUSTED, RESPONSIBLE AND CARING CITIZENS WHO BRING TO THE IR WORK, WHETHER IT IS IN SCHOOL, AT THE IR WORK PLACE, OR IN LEISURELY PURSUITS, A DEEPLY-ROOTED DESIRE TO DO A GOOD JOB.

+THEY ASPIRE TO WORK THAT WILL SATISFY SOME OF THE IR BASIC CRAVINGS FOR PARTICIPATION, FOR FELLOWSHIP, FOR CHALLENGES, FOR SELF-FULFILMENT, FOR FREEDOM AND FOR EQUALITY,+ MRS CHAN SAID.

ON THE ZONTA STUDENT PROJECT SHE SAID IT WAS A WORTHWHILE PROJECT WHICH COMPLEMENTED THE EFFORTS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THEIR HOMES, THEIR CLASSROOMS AND LECTURE- HALLS.

/DURING THE