XN000022-1986-11-20 — Page 12

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1986

+THIS IS A CLEAR INDICATION THAT A HANDICAP IS BY NO MEANS AN INSURMOUNTABLE OBSTACLE TO ACHIEVEMENT. GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, SUCH STUDENTS CAN ACHIEVE IN THE SAME WAY AS THEIR ABLE-BODIED COUNTERPARTS,+ HE SAID.

MR LEUNG COMMENDED THE 10 HANDICAPPED STUDENTS WHO WERE AWARDED A SCHOLARSHIP FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL, GOOD CONDUCT AND ACADEMIC ATTAINMENT AND FOR THEIR SERVICE TO SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY,

THE SHELL-ISLAND JAYCEES SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE DISABLED WAS SET UP IN 1981 AS A CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS.

THE AIM IS TO ENCOURAGE PUPILS WITH A HANDICAP TO REALISE THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND TO DEVELOP THEIR CAPABILITIES AND POTENTIAL, TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND TO SHARE RESPONSIBILITIES AND BE INTEGRATED INTO THE COMMUNITY.

THREE-PRONGED CAMPAIGN AGAINST SMOKING

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THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-SMOKING ACTIONS ARE BY NO MEANS OUT OF PROPORTION TO THE VERY SERIOUS DANGERS OF SMOKING, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MISS ELAINE CHUNG, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY HELD AT STATUE SQUARE TO MARK HONG KONG'S THIRD SMOKE OUT DAY. MISS CHUNG SAID THIS WAS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE HAD BEEN SURPRISE IN SOME QUARTERS AT THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-SMOKING POLICIES.

+ OF COURSE, IF ALL SMOKERS REALISE THE DAMAGE THEY ARE CONSTANTLY INFLICTING UPON THEMSELVES (AND OTHERS AROUND THEM) AND VOLUNTARILY GIVE UP THE DEADLY HABIT, GOVERNMENT DOES NOT NEED TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE, SHE SAID.

MISS CHUNG ALSO OUTLINED THE GOVERNMENT'S THREE-PRONGED EFFORTS IN ANTI-SMOKING: BY LEGISLATION, EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY, AND ASSISTANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO SMOKERS.

SHE SAID THE SMOKE OUT DAY BELONGED TO THE THIRD CATEGORY AND WOULD SERVE AS A REMINDER THAT THERE WAS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SMOKING.

+SURVEYS DONE IN HONG KONG AND ELSEWHERE SHOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF SMOKERS WISH THEY HAD NOT ACQUIRED THE COSTLY, UNHEALTHY, ANTI-SOCIAL AND DIRTY HABIT,+ SHE SAID.

+MANY SMOKERS ARE, HOWEVER, TOO BUSY WITH THEIR DAILY LIVES TO THINK ABOUT GIVING UP THEIR HABIT.+

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