XN000022-1988-05-11 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1988

GOVT FULLY AWARE OF IMPORTANCE OF YOUTH

OF

THE GOVERNMENT IS FULLY AWARE OF THE PROFOUND IMPORTANCE YOUTH TO THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG AND RECOGNISES THAT THEY DESERVE SPECIAL CARE AND ATTENTION, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE THE YOUTH PROBLEM IN HONG KONG COUNTRIES, AND MOST YOUNG PEOPLE PROBLEMS.

REPORT ON YOUTH POLICY, MR LIAO SAID WAS NO WORSE THAN THAT IN OTHER GREW UP WITHOUT ANY EXPERIENCING

HE POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG HAD DEVELOPED A FINE TRADITION OF PROVIDING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH A FULL RANGE OF SERVICES AND

FACILITIES.

THE GOVERNMENT, ON ITS PART, SOUGHT TO CULTIVATE YOUNG PEOPLE ON TWO LEVELS.

ON A GENERAL LEVEL, THERE WAS THE COMMUNITY BUILDING STRATEGY WHICH AIMED AT FOSTERING AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE A SENSE OF BELONGING, MUTUAL CARE AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.

PURPOSE-BUILT

THESE OBJECTIVES WERE PROMOTED THROUGHE FACILITIES, SUCH AS COMMUNITY CENTRES, FORMATION OF RESIDENTS' ORGANISATIONS, AND CAMPAIGNS TO FIGHT CRIME AND CORRUPTION AND TO KEEP BONG KONG CLEAN.

ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME AND THE COMMONWEALTH EXCHANGE SCHEME WERE ALSO DESIGNED TO MEET THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

ON A FUNCTIONAL LEVEL, THERE WERE GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND RELATED SERVICES IN ARBAS SUCH AS EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, RECREATION AND CULTURE, AND REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT COUNSELLING, TO MEFT THE BASIC NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

MR LIAO NOTED THAT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S TOTAL BUDGET IN 1987-88, NGARLY 20 PER CENT WAS SPENT ON FDUCATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. $270 MILLION POR WELFARE SERVICES FOR YOUTH, ANDE $800 MELLION ON

RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL AND SPORTS PROGRAMMES.

FURTHERMORE. A CONSIDERABLE PROPORTION OF SERVICES FOR YOUNG

中

PEOPLE WAS ALSO PROVIDED BY THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.

/MR LIAO