CO129-591-8 Policy directives 10-3-1944 - 17-8-1944 — Page 28

SECRET

HONG KONG

CIVIL AFFAIRS POLICY DIRECTIVES

SOCIAL WELFARE

10/8/44.

28

I. Social Welfare

A central Social Welfare Advisory Committee for the

purpose of stimulating and co-ordinating work in this field should

be established. The Committee should be presided over by a senior officer of the Administration and consist of representatives of all Departments concerned and such unofficial bodies or associations

concerned with social welfare as may be deemed desirable.

2. District Committees similarly constituted should be

organised for local areas.

3. Government should appoint a Social Welfare Officer and

the Welfare Staff should be under his direction.

B

Scope of the Social Welfare Organisation

The efforts of the Committee and the Social Welfare Officer

should be directed towards improving the general well-being of the

community in its widest sense. To this end, the various Government

services which are directly concerned with the social welfare of the

people (in particular, the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs, the Urban Council, the Port Authority, and the Medical and Education Departments)

should be conceived as part of a co-operative effort in which all

bodies and organisations, both official and unofficial, which are

competent to do so, should play their part. Programmes of depart-

mental activities should form an integral part of a general plan for

social welfare, based on the ascertained needs of the community and

so constructed as to give proper weight to the requirements of both

urban and rural areas. Programmes should be sanctioned only when

these conditions are fulfilled and it is clear that the Departments

and interests concerned have been fully consulted and that full

co-operation is assured. Social Welfare Committees, central and