XN000022-1994-12-10 — Page 5

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Concerning anti-discrimination legislation and a Human Rights Commission, the spokesman said the Government supported the principle of equality for all, but it was important to note that anti-discrimination legislation was a relatively new area of law, with which Hong Kong had little experience.

He said: "We will introduce a series of measures which are specific, effective and durable concentrating on areas such as sex discrimination and disability where there is clear need and public demand for action."

End/Saturday, December 10, 1994

Government committed to nurturing youths

The Government is committed to giving the best learning opportunities and the best support possible to help young people become mature, responsible and contributing members of society, the Financial Secretary, Sir Hamish Macleod, said today (Saturday).

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Felix Wong Children and Youth Centre in Tseung Kwan O, Sir Hamish said in order to achieve that aim, a healthy environment for young people to grow up was also important.

"Economic prosperity alone does not necessarily create such an environment. Sometimes, it even brings more pressures: materialism, or the breakdown of the family, for example."

"And our young people may not be able to withstand these pressures. It is vital that they be given help as early as possible," he said.

Sir Hamish noted that people said the bedrock of Hong Kong's economic success was the huge investment the government made in human capital.

"This is both true and false."

"It is true in the sense that our success depends on the dynamism and hard work of our people," he said.