XN000022-1989-06-28 — Page 23

21

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1989

"AT THE SAME TIME, THE NEED TO PROVIDE SIMILAR SERVICES TO SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN SHOULD ALSO

BE SERIOUSLY ADDRESSED," HE ADDED.

DR

LEONG SAID THAT, APART FROM EXTENDING SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICES. THERE SHOULD BE A REVIEW OF THE QUALITY OF SERVICES. WHICH WERE CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY DENTAL THERAPISTS.

HE ALSO SAID THAT, IN THE LIGHT OF AN IMMINENT OVER-SUPPLY OF DENTISTS, THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD CONSIDER A BETTER RATIO BETWEEN SUPERVISING DENTISTS AND DENTAL THERAPISTS,

FINALLY, NOTING THAT THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR THE AGE GROUP BETWEEN ONE AND 15 WAS FROM ACCIDENTS AND POISONING. DR LEONG URGED THAT MORE BE DONE TO PREVENT SUCH UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENTS.

SOCIAL WORKERS CAN ADVISE CHILDREN ON HOME PROBLEMS

**

SOCIAL

ALL CHILDREN SHOULD BE WITHIN REACH OF A WELL-TRAINED WORKER ABLE TO ADVISE ON HOME PROBLEMS. AND THE COMMUNITY SHOULD REACH OUT TO REHABILITATE THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN INTO BAD WAYS, THE HON ELSIE TU SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING IN THE MOTION DEBATE ON THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN IN HONG KONG, MRS TU FOCUSSED ON ONE CATEGORY OF CHILDREN THOSE WHOSE HOMES, FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER. PUT THEM AT RISK.

——

SHE URGED THAT THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ORDINANCE BE AMENDED TO FACILITATE THE REHABILITATION OF THOSE WHO HAD FALLEN INTO BAD WAYS.

NOTING THAT THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WHO COMMITTED MINOR CRIMES AS TEENAGERS, MRS TU POINTED OUT THAT TO FIND THEIR WAY BACK TO BEING GOOD MEMBERS OF SOCIETY THEY NEEDED THE HELP OF A CARING COMMUNITY.

HOWEVER, THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ORDINANCE ENACTED THREE YEARS AGO WAS NOT LIKELY TO REHABILITATE MANY YOUNG PEOPLE, BECAUSE WHILE A YOUNG PERSON INFLUENCED BY A GANG SELDOM STOPPED AT ONLY ONE MINOR OFFENCE, THE ORDINANCE ALLOWED HIM FORGIVENESS ONLY ONCE.

"IF HE HAS TO SERVE A SHORT SENTENCE IN PRISON, THAT MAY HELP TO BRING HIM TO HIS SENSES, BUT IT IS ALREADY TOO LATE TO REHABILITATE HIM, BECAUSE THE LAW DOES NOT EXPUNGE HIS CRIMINAL RECORD NO MATTER HOW SHORT THE PRISON SENTENCE MAY BE.

"THE PRESENT