ORIGINALLY, the KELY Support Group was geared toward expatriate teenagers who had moved to Hong Kong with their parents and found it difficult to cope with a new environment. But over the past two years, the group has also come in contact with many local youth whose problems also lead them to depression, family problems, drug and alcohol abuse, and thoughts of suicide. So this summer, KELY began its Cantonese language hotline and counselling service. Some people have questioned whether those raised according to the traditions of Chinese culture will ever be able to express themselves freely in a group like KELY. But KELY's experience, doing outreach and answering calls, shows that Chinese young people are indeed willing to share their worries and unhappy experiences. ''People actually need to communicate, and if they can't speak openly within their family, they'll find other means,'' said Susie Fung. ''Young people can do this more easily because they are not so set in their ways and can break the cycle of hiding andsuppressing their feelings. ''Particularly in Chinese culture, more emphasis is placed on listening to authority figures than to encouraging young people to develop their own potential.'' ''Parents have called our hotline,'' Kenneth Chan said. ''They want us to do this and that for their children. It seems they might be too protective, not trusting their children to take care of themselves. ''Many young people are more aware of their negative aspects than their positive potential. Because of low self-esteem, they see themselves as problem-makers, rather than problem-solvers. Sometimes, they know they shouldn't be behaving a certain way, but they just don't know how to stop,'' explained Chan. ''We want to help them see that they can help themselves. And they can help other young people. They don't have to just sit and wait for someone to tell them what to do.'' Twice a week, about 10 KELY volunteers take to the streets and talk to young people. These volunteers have their own problems, and they speak freely about themselves to encourage other people to say what's on their minds. In a safe, secure environment, like the KELY Support Group meetings, young people begin to share their feelings. They can relate to others in the group because they share many of the same feelings of hurt and worry. And after some time, they begin to uncover their own inner problems. Once those problems are out in the open, a troubled youth can start to draw on the strength and experience of the others in the group. They begin to realise that their behaviour has been a way of covering up intense, deep-rooted feelings. This is the concept of peer support. It is the mutual trust and sharing that happens between people who are discussing something they can both relate to. KELLY's professional counsellors and psychologists guide this process, but the real breakthroughs come from the healing process of trusting and being trusted by your peers. To try and reach more troubled young people - suffering with family problems, depression, eating disorders, and alcohol and drug abuse - KELY has launched a multi-media advertising campaign. Counsellors and volunteers have also visited many schools to spread information about KELY. They encourage young people who feel confused, hurt and angry to call the English hotline (903-29096) or the Cantonese hotline (903-97472).