SOCIAL WELFARE
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at least to under-employment. For instance, the abandonment of babies on the streets, the numbers of young children uncared for while their parents are at work, juvenile mendicancy and prostitution, the increasing numbers of destitutes or unemployed applying for relief-all these common features of the Hong Kong scene have causes which are mainly economic. Increased oppor- tunity for full employment would of itself cure to some extent many of the social ills which welfare agencies seek to overcome. In this struggle, the voluntary welfare organizations and the Government Social Welfare Department co-operate closely as partners. There is no doubt that the Department unaided could make very limited progress and in certain directions only; the voluntary bodies for their part need Government support in their task. Moreover both require the encouragement which advice, experience and financial resources from abroad already provide in some degree but could well give more abundantly. It is to be hoped that the proposed International Refugee Year, from mid- 1959, sponsored by the United Kingdom and other Governments, will serve to stimulate the imagination or goad the conscience of potential donors.
The Government in Hong Kong is advised both on the co- ordination of voluntary and official social work and on policy and planning by a Social Welfare Advisory Committee appointed by the Governor; its members are the Chairmen of four prominent voluntary organizations ex-officio, and seven members selected for their personal experience and interest in social work, with the Director of Social Welfare as Chairman. Two sub-committees were studying the questions of moral welfare and welfare of the deaf during the year and are expected to report back to the Committee shortly. The Committee is also charged with advising on applica- tions by institutions and associations for subvention from public funds and for permission to appeal to the public through flag days.
In Hong Kong, almost all the residential institutions in the field of social welfare are run by voluntary organizations, whether old-established Chinese bodies, religious foundations or other charitable associations; the main exceptions comprise certain in- stitutions in the charge of the Probation Section of the Department, which are closely associated with the Courts, and the North Point Relief Camp. Voluntary bodies, of which there are over 100 of