'austraLasia' #50

HONG KONG SALESIANS BACK A WINNER!

from our Hong Kong correspondent

HONG KONG: 15th February -- The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust

has come to the timely aid of Youth Outreach, a work for street kids

conducted by Salesian Fr. Peter Newbery. The Club has approved a grant

of HK$70 million (US $10 million) to help build an Integrated Service

Centre on Hong Kong Island. Youth Outreach must contribute a further

HK$15 million in the coming year as part of the deal. The proposed

centre will include 6 residential centres (with 20 beds each), a

counselling centre, educational centre, library, computer room, games

hall, youth centre with swimming pool, outreach centre and parking

facilities - and of course, administrative facilities. The entire

enterprise is aimed at providing services to youth at risk, especially

those on the street at night. The Youth Centre will operate around the

clock. It is expected that the Government will grant the land for the

purpose.

The Rector Major, when he visited in October of last year, saw the plans

and has promised to be available for the opening. Fr. Peter Newbery has

said of the grant news: "We fell like Don Bosco when he started his

work. The Lord will provide!"