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SOCIAL WELFARE
Adoption Ordinance. These responsibilities include the assumption of guardianship of children found abandoned or found to be in moral or physical danger, and the conducting of social and other enquiries in relation to applications for adoption prior to their consideration by the Supreme Court. In the case of applications from overseas families for the adoption of local children, the enquiries are conducted with the aid of two voluntary agencies-Caritas and the International Social Service. In 1975, 371 local adoptions and eight overseas adoptions were completed.
For abandoned and lost children, or those found wandering or in need of protec- tion, the division maintains a special centre in which they may be provided with immediate temporary care and attention. Admissions to this centre during the year totalled 170.
The maintenance and improvement of standards in nurseries, children's homes and creches is another responsibility of the family services division. The Child Care Centres Ordinance was passed during the year and, when implemented, it will set acceptable standards and provide for registration and inspection on a statutory basis. By the end of 1975, work on regulations and a code of practice associated with the ordinance was well advanced. In the meantime, the division is continuing to arrange for regular visits to be paid and advice given to such establishments, with the aim of encouraging the maintenance of reasonable and proper standards. At the end of the year, there were 9,525 places provided in non-profit-making children's centres which are subsidised by the government and reserved mainly for low income families.
An equally wide range of services is provided by voluntary agencies. These include family and marriage counselling, the operation of child care centres, social work in schools, the provision of a home-help service, and the maintenance of institutions for children and young people with special behavioural or other similar problems.
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation services designed to help the disabled to become independent and contributing members of the community are provided at 18 centres and institutions, and are supplemented by the work of many voluntary agencies. These centres and institutions are serviced by the rehabilitation division of the Social Welfare Depart- ment. Attendance during the year averaged more than 1,400 disabled people a day. Social adjustment, vocational and prevocational training is given to such people, who are also offered placement assistance and sheltered work. Residential care facilities are available for the more severely handicapped.
During the year the division participated with the Hong Kong Council of Social Service in 10 joint working groups established to examine problem areas in the various fields of rehabilitation.
In the voluntary sector, projects completed included the Po Leung Kuk and St James' Settlement sheltered workshops for the mentally retarded; the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association hostel for the mentally ill at Tuen Mun; the Rotary hostel for the mentally retarded; and the Wah Fu Training Centre for mentally handicapped children and young people. Six additional homes for the elderly were under construction or active planning by the end of the year.