welfare needs and programmes, the result being that citizens of Hong Kong are now much better informed on Council and social welfare activities.
105. The Social Welfare Advisory Committee, appointed by the Governor, is charged with advising Government on social welfare policy; its members, apart from the Director of Social Welfare who is in the chair, are unofficials with experience in welfare work, many of them in leading rôles in voluntary agencies. The Committee considers and advises Government on annual applications from voluntary organizations for financial subventions from public funds, a responsible and onerous task involving over $4 million for the financial year 1962-63. Advice is also given to Government on applications to appeal to the public by means of a Flag Day. The Sub-Committee on Voca- tional and Trade Training completed its study during the year and its report is now being considered with a view to implementing its recom- mendations. A Sub-Committee on Social Work Research produced a valuable Report which is now under consideration. The terms of reference and membership of the Advisory Committee are set out in Appendix 20.
106. In the field of group work among young people, the Hong Kong Conference of Youth Organizations brings together representatives of 15 voluntary organizations and those of the Social Welfare, Education and Prisons Departments. This body also runs the Silvermine Bay Holiday Camp and will assume responsibility for a second Holiday Camp now being planned, the cost to be met from funds donated by the United Kingdom World Refugee Year Committee. Towards the end of the year, the Hong Kong Conference initiated a meeting at which it was proposed that a Federation of Youth Groups be established, to support and co-ordinate existing youth groups and to start new ones.
107. The Hong Kong Social Workers' Association provides a forum for professional and personal contacts between individuals on the staff of the Government departments and voluntary agencies engaged in social work. Members of the Association gave career talks on social work in some 40 secondary schools, a valuable contribution towards spreading understanding of the profession. Plans are now under way for a series of seminars and conferences to stimulate discussion and deepen members' understanding of the rôle and responsibilities of the profession in the context of today's changing and expanding welfare problems.
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