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PART VII
ARINE DEPARTMENT LIBRARY
WELFARE AND RECREATION
GENERAL
244. The Force Welfare Officer is responsible for advising on the welfare of the Rank and File and their families. He is in charge of the Welfare Section, a part of Police Headquarters, which deals with loans and grants, police schools, pensioners, assistance to police widows and orphans, welfare equipment, sports and other entertainments. Where necessary he advises and assists in the settlement of matrimonial disputes and gives other types of assistance.
POLICE WELFARE FUND
245. This fund is established under the Police Force Ordinance and is controlled by the Commissioner to provide loans and, in cases of special distress, grants for serving or retired police officers in need of assistance. The Fund is also used to purchase equipment and services for the general welfare and advantage of police officers without charge to the public revenue. The Fund's sources of revenue are disciplinary fines or forfeits inflicted on police officers, the hire of police officers and donations or voluntary contributions.
246. 825 applications for loans were received and of these 768 had been approved by the end of the year. The majority of these applications, as in past years, arose from marriage, maternity, funerals, medical expenses and convalescence, expenses of schooling, clothing, furniture, house repairs and removals and sewing machines. Eleven widows of police officers were given $3,000 each from the Fund.
247. In addition to payments made as a result of these applications each branch and division is allocated a sum from the Fund which is used for unit entertainment and recreation. The accounts of the Fund are at Appendix 31.
WELFARE COMMITTEES
248. Unit Welfare Committees provide a channel of information on welfare and messing. Matters which cannot be dealt with at divisional level are forwarded to the Welfare Section.
249. The Force Welfare Officer holds a meeting each month with Staff Sergeants at which general welfare matters are discussed. Minutes of these meetings are sent to Police Headquarters.
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