SOCIAL WELFARE
167
larceny predominate. However, a constant need exists to establish an adequate number of institutions, clubs and centres where children and youths can be removed from the harmful influences of undesirable homes and malignant secret societies in order that their lives may be shaped within an atmosphere of spirit, example, and constructive training cal- culated to fit them for a responsible place in society.
The Probation Section of the Social Welfare Office consists of 10 officers, 6 of whom are actively engaged in probation work. These 6 officers, one of whom is a woman, currently supervise 135 probation cases and maintain voluntary iden- tity with more than 30 cases referred by the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs and other agencies.
The Courts are making much increased use of Probation Officers by asking for comprehensive reports relating to the social background of the families. These social investigations apply not only to offenders, but also to mendicants who in Hong Kong present an almost insoluble problem. Probation Officers have in the past year investigated the social back- ground of some 2,250 cases. Over 800 of these cases have been admitted to institutions, camps, hospitals, welfare cen- tres, etc. throughout the Colony.
Three institutions which are of particular value to the Probation Section are the Hong Kong Sea School, Stanley, the Shanghai Street Children's Centre, Kowloon, and the Juvenile Care Centre, Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Sea School concentrates exclusively on sea training and has been expanded recently to make provision for 300 boys between the ages of 14 years and 18 years. The success of this enter- prise is shown by the fact that the demand from shipping companies exceeds the supply of boys,, a most gratifying anomaly in a field of work where normally the difficulties of rehabilitation are the major concern.
The Remand Home, Kowloon, serves a dual purpose in that juveniles are admitted on arrest and remand and also for short-term periods of detention not exceeding six months.