The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority: 

The Hong Kong Housing Authority and Education Department have jointly launched a "Campaign on Promoting Civic-Mindedness in Public Housing Estates" in all primary and secondary schools today ( Tuesday ) aims to encourage students to care for the provisions and facilities in public housing estates, prevent vandalism, and keep the estates clean.

There are about 1.2 million primary and secondary students in Hong Kong which is about one-fifth of our population and most of them live in the public housing estates. Officiating out the launching ceremony,the Director of Housing, Mr. Fung Tung said, " We have the responsibilities to promote civic-mindedness among our younger generation and encourage them to care for the provisions of the public amenities and their environment, as well as in preventing vandalism and falling objects." 

" The problem of vandalism in public housing estates is not acute. Common cases of vandalism include defacing lift doors/cars, damage to play equipment, electrical fittings and glass fittings etc. However the Housing Authority still wishes to do its best to improve the living environment of the tenants in the public housing estates. The efforts need the cooperation from the tenants." he added. 

The Director of Education, Mr. Lam Woon-kwong, also said, " The task in promoting civic-mindedness among 1.2 million of students is a long process and by no means easy. I hope all primary and secondary schools will support the Campaign ." 

Activities of the Campaign include drawing and cartoon creation competitions in primary schools and slogan competitions in secondary schools. Students winning the champion's schools will also be awarded cash prizes for buying reference books and stationery. The deadline for all competitions will be early April, 1996. 

The launching ceremony of the Campaign, was officiated by the Director of Housing, Mr. Fung Tung, and the Director of Education, Mr. Lam Woon-kwong at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The children movie stars, Pak Lam and Lila Kong are the primary and secondary student representatives at the Ceremony respectively. 

Note to Editors: A photograph taken at today's event will be boxed later. End
Tuesday, December 5, 1995