5.
Co-operation with voluntary organisations clearly presents special difficulties which will require careful handling if the goodwill now available through voluntary effort is not to be dissipated in a sense of frustration at the intervention of Government. But while such action may present certain difficulties now, the longer it is left the harder it will be to make any changes. I therefore hope that it will be possible to make early arrangements for closer supervision of grant-aided institutions and, after completion of a preliminary survey undertaken possibly by a co-ordinating agency such as the Hong Kong Social Welfare Council, for some rationalisation of existing effort.
6.
I appreciate the difficult conditions under which all your officers are working and the strain placed upon social services by the influx of refugees from outside the Colony, but I am anxious that the short term difficulties should not be allowed to obscure the valuable long term suggestions made by Mr. Chinn. I hope that the Report will receive careful attention and I should be glad if you would inform me in due course what action it has been possible to take on the principal suggestions made by my Adviser.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient,
humble servant,
(Sgd.)
A. Creech Jones.
6€