Cheng Uk and Fa Hui; the Association's eleven children's libraries have a monthly attendance of about 75,000. The five libraries run by the Department in the Community and Social Centres attract some 77,000 visits and its mobile library lends some 22,000 books to New Territories children each month. Libraries not only provide healthy reading matter in large quantities to offset the influence of the dubious wares offered by street stalls; they also attract children to join in competitions, picnics, etc. organized by the agencies which run the libraries.
88. The Hong Kong Sea School trains boys, who are selected largely because of needy circumstances, for a career at sea. The School was badly hit by typhoon 'Wanda'; severe damage was done to four of the dormitories, a store and the sick bay. This meant a temporary reduction in the number of boys from 350 to 300 but plans are in hand to increase capacity to 550, for which the new mess hall and kitchen will provide adequate facilities. Boys who have finished their training have at present no difficulty in finding employment as the demand from shipping firms for properly trained young scamen remains high.
CHAPTER IX
COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL CENTRES
89. The pressing need for actively stimulating a sense of community and social responsibility in Hong Kong is apparent from the special conditions of the phenomenal growth of its population and economy, some of which are indicated below; it would hardly be surprising if there were some lack of social cohesion in these circumstances. The population is now over three and a half millions as compared with some 650,000 at the end of the Japanese occupation, at least a third consisting of immigrants and their children. Some 70% of the people live under severely cramped housing conditions around the fringes of the harbour. Between 1954 and 1962 the Government's Resettlement programme had rehoused 435,000 in twelve estates, highly compressed 'new towns' each with a population ranging between 30,000 and 80,000. In these conditions, there are formidable difficulties in any attempt to encourage these new citizens to take part in the development of a coherent community.
90. However, attempts are being made through community and social centres in resettlement estates and new towns to bring together
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