Service to provide practicable proposals for the development of services in every field of social work for a five year period. This exercise stems from the 1965 Debate on Social Welfare Policy and every effort has been made to ensure that the plans in preparation represent the agree ment of both official and voluntary sides as to what is both desirable and practicable. The process has been elaborate but it represents no less than the laying of foundations not only for development of services but also for effective and lasting co-operation between the voluntary and official sectors, which is fundamental to successful operation of the services of the future.

5. Other projects which have represented a large commitment of planning time and which we hope 1968 will see come into being have been the Kwun Tong Combined Training Centre and Hostel for mentally retarded persons, the World Rehabilitation Day Centre for the Disabled, the Lady Trench Day Nursery and Training Centre to be built at Mor- rison Hill, and the new Estate Welfare Buildings the first of which will be provided next year in Ham Tin, Tsz Wan Shan and Sau Mau Ping.

6. By then too will have been implemented a major reorganization of departmental services, to which much thought and attention was given during the year under review, and which involves not only the creation of a Family Service in place of the separate sections dealing with child welfare, women & girls, the disabled, and relief assistance, but also the grouping of services în district offices conveniently located so that all the skills required to meet a family's needs may be met at a single point of contact in each main district. A second office was estab- lished during the year in the Eastern District of Hong Kong Island and planning for Kowloon was well advanced by the end of the year.

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT

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7. For ten years, from 1948 to 1958, official participation in social welfare work in Hong Kong was conducted by a, Social Welfare Office operating under the umbrella of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs. An independent Social Welfare Department was created in 1958 when the statutory functions and powers associated with social welfare matters were transferred from the Secretary for Chinese Affairs to the Director of Social Welfare. A list of legislation with which the Department is concerned is at Appendix 1. The most important items in this list are these that relate to the care and protection of children, adoption, pro- bation, and juvenile correctional institutions. The Department works

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