Social Welfare Office in co-operation with the Government Ophthalmic Service. Arrangements were made for the needy blind and their families to obtain relief, and, whenever possible, other social services of which they might be in need. Two voluntary homes, both subsidized by Government, provided sheltered employment, mainly in making knitted or rattan articles, for approximately 50 blind women, and primary education, including some training in handicrafts, for 100 blind children. The Ebenezer Home for the Blind opened an exten- sion in June 1955, taking in 24 more blind children referred by the Social Welfare Office, thereby bringing the total number in the home to 124. The Honeyville Home looked after 32 blind girls. In both homes Cantonese braille was the main medium of instruction but English braille was also used, especially in the Ebenezer Home, where several older children learnt how to type. The first company of blind Girl Guides in the Colony, consisting of 8 girls from this Home, was enrolled in March 1956. Its Superintendent represented the Colony at the Far East Conference on work for the Blind held in Tokyo in October 1955.
67. Care of the Deaf and Dumb consisted mainly of providing educational facilities for deaf children. Provision for an increase in these facilities was made by work starting on a new wing for the Hong Kong School for the Deaf, to bring its numbers up to 100, and by Government granting a site to the Rotary Club of Hong Kong Island East to build new premises for the Overseas Chinese School for the Deaf and Dumb.
68. In June 1955 a sub-committee of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service submitted a report on the Care of Mental Defectives. It was estimated that there were some 2,000 cases of mental deficiency in the Colony, of which 140 had been seen either in the Mental Hospital, other hospitals, relief camps or orphanages. The report recommended the setting up of a home for 200 Mental Defectives and this is now under considera- tion by the Medical Department.
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