SOCIAL WELFARE
welfare agencies is also achieved by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, which consists of welfare bodies organized largely on the western pattern. In November, the Social Welfare Office, in conjunction with the Council, organized a social welfare exhibition. Its purpose was to interest members of the public in all the various types of social work being carried on in Hong Kong. The exhibition was open for three days and was visited by about 20,000 people.
Infant and Child Welfare
Institutional care of abandoned babies and orphaned children is largely the concern of voluntary organiza- tions and every encouragement is given by the Social Welfare Officer to the twenty nine children's homes in the Colony. The Hong Kong Society for the Protec- tion of Children is concerned with the care of babies who belong to poor families and much of their work of educating mothers in cleanliness and infant hygiene is done among squatter families. More day nurseries where working mothers can leave their young children to be suitably cared for during the daytime are needed. At present four such day nurseries are in operation, one of which has been established recently by the Y.W.C.A. and the Church World Service in a resettle-
ment area.
Cases of suspected trafficking in, or ill-treatment of, children are investigated by Children's Officers who take whatever action is necessary for the welfare of the children concerned. The Child Welfare Section is responsible also for the welfare of all girls who are separated permanently from their parents. Some of these girls are adopted and where adoption is not made
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