in the previous year, an increase largely due to greater pressure population and greater under-employment. In addition, the case workers at these centres helped those in need in writing letters, applying for hawker licences and with information or advice. These six centres have between them a staff of three Relieving Officers, twelve Asssistant Relieving Officers and ten Social Workers. Bulk foodstuffs are stored and hot meals cooked at two kitchens, one on each side of the harbour, and distributed by lorry as required; the Hung Hom kitchen is staffed by one Assistant Relieving Officer, two Social Workers and four cooks, while the Happy Valley kitchen is attached to the welfare centre there. Details of the services rendered at these centres and of the scale and cost of food supplied are given in Appendices 16 and 17.
56. A large contribution is made towards reducing malnutrition in Hong Kong by surplus foodstuffs provided by the United States Govern- ment for distribution to needy families. These were issued mainly through four approved international agencies, namely the Catholic Relief Services (National Catholic Welfare Conference), the Lutheran World Federation, Church World Service and C.A.R.E. (Co-operative for American Remittances to Everywhere). The main items were powdered milk, wheat flour, cornmeal, rice and beans; details appear in Appendix 18. Government, through the Department, takes a hand in this by providing free storage space and a proportion of the internal transport cost of these foodstuffs.
57. Advice and assistance is given by staff of the Relief Section to attempted suicides. During the year, 659 such persons (284 men and 375 women) were referred to the welfare centres by the Police. Financial stress was the main precipitating cause of suicide in men and domestic discord in women. Details, including figures of deaths, are given in Appendix 19. The total number of deaths and attempts in the previous year was 71 and 807, the latter appreciably more numerous.
58. The Relief Section also runs a Camp at North Point where some 400 homeless destitutes, including a number of displaced persons await- ing repatriation, are housed in wooden huts, fed and given vocational training where practicable. There are classes in printing (the press produces all special forms used by the Department), carpentry, etc. When the Morrison Hill Camp was closed on 30th July, 1957 North Point become the only Government relief camp. Its staff consists of
18