further tragedy to a populace still counting their losses and taking stock of the damage.
64. The floods and landslides that resulted from these rains left 64 dead and more than 2,500 homeless. Blocked and washed out roads seriously disrupted communications and isolated a number of areas, including the Peak District. In the aftermath of this horror, people from all walks of life joined forces for the formidable task of clearing the mud and debris.
65. Helicopters ferried supplies to isolated areas, emergency transit camps were established, and a relief fund was launched to which the public contributed with unstinting generosity. The scars left by the most disastrous rains Hong Kong has ever experienced still disfigure the green slopes above Victoria City.'
66. So reads an extract from the Colony Annual Report Hong Kong 1966. For the Relief Section of the Department and those in other Departments or in voluntary agencies who work alongside them to bring aid to the affected. The June rainstorms presented a challenge which was met in the customary manner with promptitude, unremitting toil and efficiency. Altogether 10,169 persons were registered with this department for emergency relief in the form of food and shelter as well as assistance with rehabilitation grants from the Community Relief Trust Fund which amounted to $872,000. The disaster evoked lively and practical sympathy from the general public who responded gener- ously to an appeal on behalf of the Fund which exists to meet circum- stances of this and other kinds in which monetary grants may help to meet some at least of the problems of the poor. Disasters on this scale are fortunately relatively few, but the Relief Section has many other emergency calls to meet every year from such causes as fires, house collapses and orders for the closure of dangerous old buildings. When these arise the Relief Section of the department is automatically in action and in all 28,534 persons resorted to the department during the year for assistance in disaster. All these emergency relief measures require members of the Relief Section to rush out hot meals from their kitchens and to arrange temporary camping-out accommodation for the homeless in the covered play areas of government schools and elsewhere. Prompt aid and comfort to victims is due to the combined efforts and co-operation of the New Territories Administration, the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, the Police Force and the Resettlement and Social Welfare Departments on the official side; while the co-operation
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