XN000022-1992-12-07 — Page 13

12

MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1992

CHRISTMAS TIME TO REMEMBER LESS FORTUNATE CHILDREN

—

CHRISTMAS IS A TIME TO REMEMBER CHILDREN, NOT JUST CHILDREN HERE IN HONG KONG, BUT THE MILLIONS OF CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAN THE CHILDREN HERE AND WHO ARE IN NEED, MRS PATTEN SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 'FESTIVAL OF TREES 1992' ORGANISED BY THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND, SHE SAID MANY CHILDREN WERE HOMELESS, STARVING, LACKING OF BASIC HEALTH CARE AND PROPER SCHOOLING WHO COULD ONLY DREAM OF THE JOYS OF CHRISTMAS.

MRS PATTEN PRAISED SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND FOR ITS DEDICATION AND STRENUOUS EFFORTS IN HELPING NEEDY CHILDREN EVERYWHERE.

SHE WAS IMPRESSED BY THE VIGOUR AND ORGANISATIONAL ABILITY WHICH IT HAD SHOWN IN LAUNCHING RELIEF PROJECTS IN REMOTE REGIONS AROUND THE WORLD WHICH WERE AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS OF FAMINE.

SHE SAID: "THE FESTIVAL OF TREES 18 AN EXCELLENT REMINDER DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON THAT MANY CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD NEED OUR HELP IN ORDER TO HAVE A CHANCE IN LIFE."

CALL TO JOIN HANDS TO HELP DISABLED

IT

TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF FULL INTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY, IS VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR DISABLED PERSONS TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN SOCIETY AND TO GAIN PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THEIR CAUSE, MRS PATTEN SAID.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE NEW HEADQUARTERS AND ACTIVITY CENTRE OF HONG KONG FEDERATION OF HANDICAPPED YOUTH TODAY (MONDAY), MRS PATTEN SAID AS USERS OF SERVICES, DISABLED PERSONS COULD CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY AND SIGNIFICANTLY ΤΟ THEIR OWN

REHABILITATION.

"THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS BEST.

"THEY CAN HELP GOVERNMENT FORMULATE REHABILITATION PLANS.

AND

IMPLEMENT

"THEY CAN ALSO ADVISE GOVERNMENT AS TO HOW POLICIES COULD BE IMPROVED TO BEST MEET THEIR NEEDS,

++ SHE SAID.

MRS PATTEN SAID DISABLED PERSONS IN HONG KONG HAD BEEN DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB IN THIS AREA.

APART FROM ADVISING THE GOVERNMENT ON REHABILITATION MATTERS, SELF-HELP ORGANISATIONS LIKE THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF HANDICAPPED YOUTH ALSO PROVIDE VALUABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE FOR DISABLED PERSONS.

/"THEY CAN