XN000022-1989-10-21 — Page 6

5

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1989

APART FROM THE PROVISION OF REHABILITATION SERVICES, MRS WONG NOTED THAT 1T WAS VITAL TO PROMOTE COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION SO THAT THE PUBLIC COULD HAVE A POSITIVE VIEW TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH, UNDERSTAND HOW MENTAL ILLNESS WAS DEVELOPED, AND BE WILLING TO ACCEPT AND ASSIST MENTAL PATIENTS.

SHE PRAISED THE HONG KONG MENTAL

HEALTH ASSOCIATION FOR ITS CO-OPERATION WITH

ENTHUSIASM AND EFFORTS. AND PARTICULARLY ITS CLOSE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.

CREDIT UNIONS PRAISED

THE REGISTRAR OF CREDIT UNIONS. MR TONY BENNETT. TODAY (SATURDAY) PRAISED LOCAL CREDIT UNIONS FOR GENERATING THEIR OWN FINANCIAL RESOURCES WITHOUT RESORTING TO EXTRANEOUS AID OR DONATIONS

BY OUTSIDERS.

MR BENNETT, ACTING DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES. WAS ADDRESSING A DINNER PARTY ORGANISED BY THE CREDIT UNION LEAGUE OF HONG KONG TO MARK THE INTERNATIONAL CREDIT UNION DAY.

CREDIT UNIONS ARE A SPECIALISED FORM OF CO-OPERATIVE ORGANISATION WHOSE MEMBERS JOIN VOLUNTARILY TOGETHER ΤΟ PROMOTE SELF-HELP AND MUTUAL HELP THROUGH LENDING THEIR SAVINGS TO NEEDY MEMBERS AT A LOW RATE OF INTEREST. IN HONG KONG, CREDIT UNIONS HAVE HISTORY OF MORE THAN TWO DECADES.

A

AS AT MARCH 31 THIS YEAR. THERE WERE 86 REGISTERED CREDIT UNIONS IN HONG KONG WITH A TOTAL MEMBERSHIP OF 35,000 AND. CURRENTLY. THERE ARE SOME 35.000 CREDIT UNIONS SERVING 71 MILLION MEMBERS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S INTERNATIONAL CREDIT UNION DAY WAS "CREDIT UNIONS: ONE VOICE". WHICH REFLECTED THE NEED FOR CO-OPERATING AND FOCUSSING ON COMMON INTERESTS NOT ONLY WITHIN INDIVIDUAL CREDIT UNIONS BUT ALSO AMONG CREDIT UNIONS AT LOCAL. REGIONAL. TERRITORIAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL.

"AS ON AVERAGE EACH MEMBER OF THE LOCAL CREDIT UNION MOVEMENT HAS SAVINGS OF $4,200 AND AS OVER 92 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL SHARES OF 8144 MILLION ARE ON LOAN TO NEEDY MEMBERS. THE USEFULNESS OF CREDIT UNIONS SHOULD NOT BE UNDERESTIMATED AS A MEANS OF ALLEVIATING THE SHORT TO MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL NEEDS OF THEIR MEMBERS.

"IN THE LONGER TERM. MEMBERS CAN ALSO USE THEIR CREDIT UNIONS TO PROVIDE FINANCE FOR THE PURCHASE OF A HOME. MR BENNETT SAID.

г

/HE WENT