9
Social Welfare
THE background to the development of social services in Hong Kong over the past decade is described in Chapter 1. In order to avoid undue repetition, this chapter deals largely with the immediate problems and achievements of the year under review.
The rainstorm of 12th June was the most disastrous ever recorded in Hong Kong. It caused great loss of life and considerable damage to crops, livestock and property. The resulting hardship once again threw into prominence both the official and voluntary relief services which work continuously throughout the year giving help to those who need it. Such needs may arise temporarily, as a result of fire, typhoon, flood or other disaster, or on a long-term basis because those seeking help are unable, for one reason or another, to support themselves or their families. At one stage, in the aftermath of the rainstorm, 10,000 people were on the register as needing temporary accommodation, hot meals, new sites for their huts, blankets, clothing or cooking and eating utensils. Many of these needed not one of these items but all. The people of Hong Kong gave generously, as did many sympathizers in other countries, and altogether some $2.59 million was raised to augment the resources of the Community Relief Trust Fund, from which grants were made to those in need of assistance because of the rains. The British Red Cross Society, CARE, Church World Service, Lutheran World Service, the Salva- tion Army, the kaifong associations and many others also rendered invaluable assistance in the provision and distribution of blankets, clothing, eating utensils and supplementary foodstuffs to the victims as well as assisting them to re-establish themselves.
Following the acceptance of the white paper entitled 'Aims and Policy for Social Welfare in Hong Kong', a small planning unit was established in the Social Welfare Department. During the year this unit, in close collaboration with the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, was busy preparing a five-year plan for social welfare services. Meanwhile, development of the various services continued