The Society receives a substantial Government grant through the Social Welfare Officer, which helps it to carry on the work, at its five centres, of educating mothers of poor families in infant hygiene and feeding, as well as giving out milk, cod-liver oil, etc. to the babies and congee "fortified" with multi-purpose food to pregnant women and nursing mothers.
17. As mentioned in earlier reports, the serious social problems raised by mothers abandoning their babies continue to be met by the Foundling Homes, the Police, and the Social Wel- fare Office working together in the closest co-operation. There are seven voluntary homes which admit such abandoned babies, and whenever possible suitable adoptions are arranged în con- junction with the Child Welfare Section of the Social Welfare Office. The protection of infants against ill-treatment, traffick- ing, and other offences of a like nature, is covered by the Protection of Women and Juveniles Ordinance, No. 1 of 1951, which is explained in the next chapter.
CHAPTER V
CHILD WELFARE
18. The Child Welfare Section was very hard-pressed throughout the year, although the opening of a new office in the old Tsan Yuk Hospital building helped to relieve the pressure to some extent. By the end of March 1956, the total number of children in care was 5,435 compared with 4,285 at the end of March 1955. (See Appendix V).
19. The main legislation providing for the care of children who have been parted permanently from their parents or whose parents or guardians are incapable of looking after them, is contained in the Protection of Women and Juveniles Ordinance, No. 1 of 1951 which is administered by the Social Welfare Officer on behalf of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs. Under this Ordinance, girls under 21 living away from their parents and in need of care and protection and those who have been
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