SOCIAL WELFARE
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within the basic framework of the white paper, in the light of grow- ing public interest in the welfare problems faced by the community. The Lotteries Fund, with an annual income from the sale of lotteries tickets of between $2 million and $3 million, exists principally to provide capital funds for the development of non-statutory social welfare services.
Hong Kong is exceptionally fortunate in having a great range of voluntary welfare organizations, locally based and international, religious, secular and traditional. The 84 member organizations of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service are shown at Appendix XLV. Their combined efforts make a massive contribution to the welfare of the community, and the government relies on these voluntary agencies, some of which are assisted by government subvention, to provide many important welfare services. An in- teresting development is the investigation at present in progress into the practicability of establishing a community chest from which allocations could be made to the various agencies at present competing individually, either successfully or otherwise, for local support. This investigation is in unofficial hands, and is seeking to establish the degree of support that a chest would command among the donating public and the receiving agencies.
YOUTH WELFARE
The main emphasis in the field of youth services continues to be the provision of opportunity for young people to test their capabilities and their character in ways that are not damaging or dangerous to the community. With the high degree of urban congestion that has arisen as a result of Hong Kong's phenomenal population growth, increasing interest has been shown in the recreational opportunities afforded by the open countryside and the virtually uninhabited mountainous regions that immediately adjoin the built-up areas. The more adventurous are beginning to realize these advantages themselves, but this spark of adventure is being blown on both by the department and by voluntary agencies, amongst which must especially be mentioned the Federation of Youth Groups, YMCA, Scouts, Guides and the Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association. Cur- rent interest in national parks and nature reserves is seen as most important in this context.