TNAG-1730-FCO40-2443-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 112

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policy formulation. Invigorated youth policy decisions are expected to bring about reforms in our educational system and revised labour legislation, such as the Long Service Payment Lo. Scheme affecting young workers, in order to maximiže

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opportunities for education and employment for youth. foster the healthy development of young people, youth work that supplement formal education is likely to expand while volunteer service is to be promoted. To encourage youth participation

in community affairs, it is envisaged that family life education promoting harmonious family and interpersonal relationships, and leadership training and civic education will be conducted with concentrated efforts. Indeed, we need more social policy programmes designed to enhance young people's

status in society.

The foregoing outlines some priorities of an ideal youth policy which has to be supplemented with concrete plans and schedule for implementation, without which a set of principles will only remain a paranoia. Sir, the most exigent task now in hand is to set up the proposed commission for youth which is the only guarantee for smooth coordination of various government departments working towards the same direction to ensure consistency and quality of policies. On top of the Commission's proposed functions, however, I would suggest that the Commission should closely monitor various social policies and recommend legislative changes affecting the well-being of young people. This high-power Commission, to be headed by a Commissioner for Youth, should feature membership drawn from related disciplines. The importance of youth's participation in the Commission's work cannot be over-emphasized, if our youth policy is to meet the emerging needs of young people in a rapidly changing environment.

Sir, it has taken us some two decades to get the ball

The rolling for formulating a youth policy for Hong Kong. ironical nonchalance towards the policy demonstrated. by young people themselves serves as writings on the wall. If we have

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