CO129-629-8 Social policy 1-12-1949 - 31-12-1951 — Page 15

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12 Hong Kong Das 216

13 Hong Kong

Desp

125

19 AUG 1950

15

14.11.50.

1. Arising out of discussions between the Secretary of State and the Governor of Hong Kong, when the latter was on leave this year the despatch at (12) was sent to Hong Kong. This referred in general terms to the report written by Mr. Chinn after his visit to Hong Kong (copy at enclosure to (17) on 12500/17/49) and, whilst appreciating the difficulties in the field of social policy caused by the influx of refugees into Hong Kong and pre-occupation with defence

nd internal security measures, specifically requested that immediate conson should be given to the first two of Mr. Chinn's recommendations viz:-

(i) that an independent Department of Social Welfare,

with separate functions from those of the Secretariat of Chinese Affairs, should be established;

(ii) that a deputy for the Social Welfare Officer should

be appointed.

2. In (13) opposite the Governor replies to (12). He turns down the recommendation at (i) above broadly on the grounds that the fact that the Social Welfare Officeris gazetted as Assistant Secretary for Chinese Affairs is convenient in a number of ways and that far from considering it harmful for the Social Welfare Office to be so closely associated with the Secretariat for Chinese .ffairs he considers this positively helpful. In the face of this very definite expression of opinion in favour of the present arrangement it would I think be difficult to press the Governor further on this point. The second recommendation (at (ii) above) the Governor accepts and he. states that a Deputy Social Welfare Officer will be available as from the end of ovember (i.e. the present time) until April next when he is due to go on leave. Meanwhile the Governor is looking for a suitable replacement. This is satisfactory as also is the Governor's assurance that he will do all that is financially possible to provide for any further essentiel sta f increases in 1951/52.

3.

The despatch at (13) contains some interesting

/enclosures