Social_Welfare_Annual_Report_1967-1968 — Page 21

must help each citizen to play his part in the development of a two way communication system between all levels of the people and all levels of Government which should in the end result in a healthier and more vital society.

40. The original, limited, purpose of the Social Welfare Depart- ment's youth service was to provide some healthy activity for those children of eight to fifteen years old who could not get into school; but since it is now so much easier for the average child to enter a primary school, more energy can be turned to the creation of outlets for the energies of the potentially inflammable group of young people between fourteen and twenty-one years of age. The Division tries therefore to stimulate and facilitate the development of new and improved facilities. It does this partly by direct provision of services and partly by lending support and encouragement to the many voluntary agencies which are active in this most important field. Typical of its own direct provision are its 'groups' at the community and social centres. There are usually five to six hundred active youth members in each of these centres. They take part in a variety of interest groups, club groups and uniformed groups. While interest groups are designed to meet the specific interests of individual youths, club groups more for social activities, and uni- formed groups for a specific programme, they are all aiming for the development of well adjusted individuals, who are expected to become mature adults and contributing members of society.

41. A separate Youth Centre has been set up in Sham Shui Po since 1963 to provide constructive and creative activities for some six hundred young people in that area. Like those in community and social centres, activities include a wide range of special interests such as judo, Chinese boxing, Lion dances, painting, pop music, social dances, etc. These are groups providing maximum opportunities for young people to share, to plan and to take part in decision-making, with adult help and guidance. In June, 1967, another youth centre was opened in Fanling, New Territories, for rural youths who need recreation and group experience as much as those in the congested urban areas. Through the generosity of the Rotary Club of Hong Kong, this centre was created by the refitting and adaptation of a club house formerly used by the Army. A new youth hostel was also built adjacent to it providing simple accommodation, cooking and dining facilities for sixty boys and girls. Being the only youth centre in the area, it has introduced new forms of organized youth activities and has started to stimulate under-

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