street boys which is run by the British Commonwealth Save the Children Fund; and the Hong Kong Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society, for which an assessment of progress was made. The work of this society is closely connected with the Prisons Department which, with the Police, also provides an adviser or observer and has lent one of its social welfare officers for a period of two years as chief welfare officer of the Society.
CHAPTER VI
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND EMERGENCY RELIEF
59. More intensive casework aimed at rehabilitating and restoring destitutes and others to full or partial economic independence, together with relatively good economic and employment conditions in the Colony were the main factors contributing to a notable and encouraging decrease in relief commitments during the year. The average daily number of dry rations issued dropped from 7,402 last year to 5,672 this year, and of cooked meals from 3,244 to 2,378, reducing total relief commitments to the lowest level since 1958-59. But it should be noted that, while relief commitments fell, the work of officers of the Relief Section actually increased, for it is only through more positive casework and more frequent home visits and interviews that means can be found effectively to assist destitutes and others to overcome their difficulties before they become a long-term charge on the public purse. The assist- ance given may range from the securing of employment to rehabilita- tion and vocational training, from referrals for medical attention to compassionate resettlement. Appendix 15, which gives details, shows that the number of home visits rose by over 30% during the year. Provided that the economy of the Colony continues buoyant and maintains itself in relation to future increases in population, there is reason to hope that this more constructive approach will keep relief commitments in the future at their present comparatively low level.
60. The Relief Section maintains seven welfare centres and two kitchens through which the staff are able to bring a positive casework service to those in need and to provide relief feeding. The welfare centres are located at Yau Ma Tei, Sham Shui Po and Wong Tai Sin in Kowloon; at Happy Valley, Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun and Shau Kei Wan on Hong Kong Island and at Tsuen Wan in the New Territories. The East Kowloon Welfare Centre was opened in October at the Wong Tai Sin Resettlement Estate to replace an old hutted Centre which had to be demolished to provide access to a new housing
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