XN000022-1986-12-19 — Page 7

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1986

AS A RESULT, 1 388 PROSECUTIONS WERE TAKEN OUT FOR BREACHES OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS.

THE DEPARTMENT HAD SET UP A TELEPHONE HOTLINE TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT INDUSTRIAL SAFETY MATTERS AND TO PROVIDE ADVICE ON SAFETY AND HEALTH PROBLEMS.

MR HAMMOND URGED WORKERS TO MAKE USE OF THE HOTLINE TO REPORT UNSAFE WORKING SITUATIONS, AND ASSURED CALLERS THAT THE IDENTITY OF COMPLAINANTS AND THE INFORMATION RECEIVED WOULD BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

TRUANCY A MAJOR FACTOR IN JUVENILE CRIME

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A JUVENILE COURT MAGISTRATE, MISS COLETTE VAN DER EB, HAS DESCRIBED TRUANCY AS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND A MAJOR CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR IN JUVENILE CRIME TODAY.

OFFICIATING AT THE CHRISTMAS PARTY OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S BEGONIA ROAD BOYS' HOME TODAY (FRIDAY), SHE SAID: +CHILDREN WHO LEAD FULL, WELL-ORGANISED AND WELL-SUPERVISED LIVES DO NOT, AS A RULE, FALL PREY TO THE MANY TEMPTATIONS TO WHICH TRUANTS SUCCUMB.+

MISS VAN DER EB POINTED OUT THAT ONE IN THREE OF THE CHILDREN WHO CAME BEFORE THE COURTS WERE PERSISTENT TRUANTS.

SHE SAID THAT IT WAS IN THE INTERESTS OF THE CHILDREN THAT THEY ATTENDED SCHOOL REGULARLY AND BE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE PART IN INTERESTING AND WHOLESOME ACTIVITIES IN THEIR LEISURE HOURS.

+ THE FACT THAT LACK OF RESOURCES MEANS THAT MANY CHILDREN ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL ON A WHOLE DAY BASIS MAKES TRUANCY FAR EASIER AND THE TASK OF THE POLICE IN IDENTIFYING TRUANTS SO MUCH THE HARDER.

+THE ONUS LIES IN THE FIRST PLACE ON THE PARENTS AND IN THE SECOND ON THE SCHOOLS, SHE SAID.

+CLEARLY IT IS THE PARENTS' DUTY NOT ONLY TO FEED AND CLOTHE THEIR CHILDREN BUT TO EDUCATE THEM AND IN SO DOING TO MINIMISE THE CHANCES OF THEIR FALLING PREY TO EVIL INFLUENCES,+ SHE ADDED.

HOWEVER, SHE APPRECIATED THAT VERY OFTEN PARENTS HAD TO WORK SUCH LONG HOURS BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL NECESSITY THAT THEY WERE LEFT NEITHER THE TIME NOR THE ENERGY TO CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

/+THIS IS ...........