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SOCIAL WELFARE
Child care centres provide care and supervision for children under the age of six in accordance with the standards laid down in legislation. All child care centres are subject to registration, inspection and control under the Child Care Centres Ordinance and Regula- tions. The ordinance and regulations were amended in 1983 to bring in line offences and penalties applicable to both child care centres and kindergartens, the latter being registered under the Education Ordinance and Regulations. At the end of 1983, there were 22 179 places in day child care centres, including creches for children under the age of two, and 951 places in residential child care centres.
Following the introduction of the fee assistance scheme for pre-primary services in September 1982, day nurseries are no longer fully subvented, but low income families who have a social need for their children to be placed in full day care receive government assistance with the payment of day nursery fees on a sliding scale. The scheme is administered by the Social Welfare Department and at December 1983 there were some 11 800 children receiving fee assistance in day nurseries.
Residential care is also provided, when necessary, to children and young persons. Discussions continued between the Social Welfare Department and relevant voluntary agencies on the best ways of meeting the needs of children who require residential care. Action was also taken to carry out the recommended improved standards for children's homes. At the same time, more non-institutional types of care, especially foster care and small group homes, are being developed.
The adoption unit of the department handles both local and overseas adoptions - the latter with the assistance of the International Social Service, Hong Kong branch. At the end of the year, there were 389 cases of legal adoption by court order, 76 proposed adoption cases and 49 cases of overseas adoption.
Medical social workers help patients and their families to cope with personal and social problems which arise from, or adversely affect, their illness and disabilities. They interview patients and family members in hospitals, clinics or in their homes and make full use of the facilities and services provided by the government or other welfare agencies - such as public assistance, compassionate rehousing, vocational training, job placement services, child care centres and sheltered workshops.
Following the transfer of the medical social service, formerly administered by the Medical and Health Department, to the Social Welfare Department in October 1982, medical social service units have been placed under the direct supervision of the depart- ment's four regional offices while its headquarters has become responsible for the co-ordination of services provided by specialist units covering narcotics, mental health, chest and skin. During the year, 85 960 cases were handled by medical social workers. A review of the duties and staffing requirements of the service began in 1983 with the aim of achieving closer integration of medical social work with the department's other family welfare services.
Care of the Elderly
Care in the community is the guiding principle for the planning of services for elderly people. The main objective is to preserve and foster the role of the family as the chief supporter of the elderly. A wide range of community support services is provided, mainly by the voluntary sector with the assistance of the government, to enable the elderly to remain in the community. Services include home help, meals service, home visiting, community education, day care and social and recreational activities. By the end of 1983, there were 270 home helpers, 68 social centres for the elderly, eight multi-service centres and two day