XN000022-1994-04-30 — Page 12

11

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1994

YOUTH: CRITICAL TRANSITIONAL PERIOD OF DEVELOPMENT

* * *

YOUTH IS A CRITICAL TRANSITIONAL PERIOD OF DEVELOPMENT IN ANY SOCIETY, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR IAN STRACHAN, SAID.

HE SAID FOR MANY YOUNG PEOPLE, IT COULD BE A TURBULENT AND STRESSFUL EXPERIENCE AS THEY SEARCHED FOR IDENTITY, DEVELOPED THEIR ABILITIES AND POTENTIAL, RE-EXAMINED VALUES LEARNT AND EXPLORED THE MEANING OF LIFE IN THE FACE OF A VARIETY OF INFLUENCES AND PRESSURES.

MR STRACHAN WAS OFFICIATING AT THE FOUNDATION-LAYING FOR THE BREAKTHROUGH YOUTH VILLAGE TODAY (SATURDAY).

CEREMONY

ON

"THE PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENT OF HONG KONG, WITH ITS EMPHASIS MATERIAL GAIN AND THE RAPID CHANGES WHICH WE ARE GOING THROUGH, GENERATES ADDITIONAL PRESSURES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND PLACES SOME OF THEM AT RISK OF FALLING VICTIM TO VICES SUCH AS DRUG ABUSE AND TRIAD INVOLVEMENT.

"INDEED, YOUTH AT RISK IS A

A COMPLEX ISSUR. CO-ORDINATED EFFORTS FROM MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PROFESSIONALS AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN PROVIDING SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NEEDED TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM," HE SAID.

TURNING TO THE YOUTH VILLAGE, MR STRACHAN SAID IT WOULD ΤΟ OPERATE AS AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAMME, PROVIDING SUPPORT AND TRAINING YOUNG PEOPLE IN A HOLISTIC APPROACH.

FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED INCLUDE COUNSELLING AND FAMILY SERVICES, OUTDOOR AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, SPECIALLY DESIGNED YOUTH-AT-RISK FACILITIES

SHORT-TERM BUT INTENSIVE RESIDENTIAL TRAINING.

AND

-

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF QUEEN'S PIER

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY)

THAT QUEEN'S

PIER IN CENTRAL WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO MARINE TRAFFIC FROM 10.30 AM TO 11.30 AM ON MONDAY (MAY 2).

THE CLOSURE IS TO FACILITATE THE MOUNTING OF A GUARD OF HONOUR AT EDINBURGH PLACE TO CELEBRATE THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE.

SMALL CRAFT OWNERS AND OPERATORS SHOULD NOT USE THE PUBLIC LANDING STEPS AT QUEEN'S PIER DURING THE CLOSURE.

THEY ARE ADVISED TO USE THE PUBLIC LANDING WATERFRONTS AT SHEUNG WAN AND WAN CHAI INSTEAD.

STEPS ALONG THE

/12