XN000022-1993-07-22 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1993

GOVT SUPPORTS CHARTER FOR YOUTH

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, PROCLAIMES THAT GOVERNMENT SUBSCRIBES TO THE CHARTER FOR YOUTH AND WILL ENSURE THAT THE GOALS SET OUT IN THE CHARTER ARE MET.

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SPEAKING AT THE CHARTER'S PROMULGATION CONFERENCE TODAY (THURSDAY), MR PATTEN SAID YOUNG PEOPLE MUST BE GIVEN THE HOPE, SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE HONG KONG'S NEXT 50 YEARS AS SUCCESSFUL AS THEIR PARENTS HAD MADE THE LAST 50 YEARS.

ALMOST ONE-THIRD OF THE POPULATION IS YOUNG PEOPLE AGED BETWEEN 10 AND 29.

THEIR

"THEY ARE THE GENERATION THAT WILL LIVE THEIR LIVES AND LEAD CAREERS VERY LARGELY IN THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION, HE SAID.

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"ONLY THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT RESPOND DYNAMICALLY ΤΟ ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS OFFER THEIR CITIZENS THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR FULFILMENT, AND, IN RETURN, BENEFIT FROM THE COMMITMENT AND THE SUPPORT OF THEIR CITIZENS, MR PATTEN SAID.

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THE CHARTER FOR YOUTH SETS OUT THE PRINCIPLES THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED TO ALLOW YOUNG PEOPLE TO DEVELOP THEMSELVES AS INDIVIDUALS AND IN THEIR ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THE PRINCIPLES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

MR PATTEN SAID THE COMMISSION ON YOUTH HAD WORKED HARD TO ENSURE THAT THE PRINCIPLES SET OUT IN THE CHARTER MEET THE SOCIAL ASPIRATIONS AND THE NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE:

* FAMILY WELFARE POLICY WILL AIM TO PRESERVE AND STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY ΤΟ PROVIDE THE L'ARK AND THE EXAMPLE OP LOVING RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE NEED.

* HONG KONG CAN BE PROUD OF THE EXTENT OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE TO YOUNG PROPLE, BUT THERE IS MUCH TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF TRACHING AT PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LEVEL.

* A TREMENDOUS RANGE OF VOLUNTARY AND FULL-TIME SOCIAL WORK ORGANISATIONS PROVIDE VARIETIES OF OUTLETS AND ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

EARLIER, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION ON YOUTH,

MR ERIC LI KA-CHEUNG, CALLED ON MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE, SUPPORT THE DOCUMENT WHICH HAS AN IMPORTANT BEARING ON THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTHS IN HK.

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"NOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN THE LEAD TO SUPPORT THE DOCUMENT BY BECOMING THE FIRST SUBSCRIBER, WE HOPE THE CHARTER WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED TO THE FULL.

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