ENG-1996 — Page 247

SOCIAL WELFARE

experience and ideas with their counterparts abroad. The commission has also prepared to play host to young visitors from the two countries in 1997.

Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education

The Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education, set up in May 1986, marked its 10th year promoting civic awareness and civic responsibility in the community. In 1996-97, it carried on with its expanded educational programme on equal opportunities and human rights with the $20 million extra grant allocated to promote these themes over the period 1995–96 to 1997–98.

Major activities in 1996 included: an annual civic education exhibition featuring the themes of the rights of the child, equal opportunities, elimination of discrimination, and the Basic Law; a series of human rights education publications including a teaching kit for children and a handbook for parents, story books, cassette tapes and music compact discs; seminars on human rights; cartoon booklets on civic education and children's rights for pre-school children; video and booklets on the Basic Law for children and youngsters; and a computer software design competition on civic education. The committee allocated some $2 million under the Community Participation Scheme to fund civic education activities run by non-government organisations.

A media campaign was launched to promote human rights, with particular emphasis on the rights of the children and equal opportunities.

To commemorate its 10th anniversary, the committee co-produced with Radio Television Hong Kong a TV programme on civic education. A conference will be organised in 1997.

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