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now has six sections responsible for Child Welfare, Youth Group Work, the welfare of Women and Girls, Special Welfare Services for the physically and mentally handicapped, Relief, and Probation. The work of these Sections is described in succeeding chapters.
3. One of the functions of the Social Welfare Department is to provide advice and encouragement to the numerous voluntary welfare agencies and institutions which play such a very important part in meeting the welfare needs of Hong Kong's millions. The reader will therefore find frequent references to these agencies and institutions on nearly every page of this report and the vital matter of the co-ordination of the social welfare work carried out both by the Government and by the voluntary agencies, many of which are assisted by subventions from public funds, is the subject of the final chapter.
4. The Director of Social Welfare and the Chief Assistant Director are both administrative officers (in Hong Kong known as Cadet Officers) of H.M. Overseas Civil Service. The Heads of Sections are professional officers. Further particulars of the staff will be found at Appendix 2.
5. The Social Welfare Advisory Committee, under the Chairmanship of the Director of Social Welfare, consists of unofficials who take a leading part in the work of the voluntary welfare agencies. It advises the Government on matters of social welfare policy and also appoints Sub-Committees from time to time to investigate and report on particular problems. During the year Reports by two Sub-Committees, on Moral Welfare and on the Welfare of the Deaf, were completed and these will be of great value in shaping policy and future developments in these spheres. Another function of the Committee is to advise the Government each year on the financial aid which should be given to various voluntary agencies and to recommend which organizations should be allowed to hold flag days during the year, the number being limited to twelve. The terms of reference and membership of the Committee will be found at Appendix 3.
6. The total expenditure on social welfare for the year was $6,001,604. Recurrent annual subventions to voluntary agencies amount- ed to $2,178,963 while special subventions for capital works came to $217,855. Subventions to the Family Planning Association and the Society for the Relief of Disabled Children are now the concern of the Medical and Health Department. Appendix 4 gives more details and a comparison with last year's expenditure.
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