CO129-629-8 Social policy 1-12-1949 - 31-12-1951 — Page 16

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enclosures on which I will not comment in detail. Enclosure 1 emunerates the impressively large number of activities now wholly or mainly undertaken by the Social Welfare Department. Enclosure 2 gives details of the new ground which has been broken during the past 12 months and of the policy which will be pursued in the various fields. Enclosure 3 though not commenting fully on the recommendations in Mr. Chinn's report (and for this the Governor apologises) does run through Mr. Chinn's summary of his recommendations and indicates the general line which Hong Kong are going to sake on these.

4. Mr. Chinn's first two recommendations (sec enclosure to (17) on 12500/49) have already been dealt with in paragraph 2 above. Of his other recommendations the Governor has accepted Nos. 4 and 5 dealing with the treatment of delinquency and the training of social workers. Recommendation No. 3 that a survey of voluntary organisations should be undertaken with a view to co-ordination appears to be accepted in principle. A survey has been carried out and a certain amount of co- ordination in some fields has been achieved; it does not look, however, as if the suggested Social Welfare Council is likely to come into being. The action to be taken on recommendations 6(i) and (ii) regarding a Children and Young Persons Ordinance, depends on study of the matter by the Principal Probation Officer, recently arrived in the Colony; this seems reasonable. Recommendation 6(iii) regarding statutory provision for dealing with relief, is not accepted.

5. On the whole we can I think say that, although social welfare does not present a completely satisfactory picture, slow but sure progress is being made towards remedying deficiencies and meeting the needs of the situation. We should, I think, in due course acknowledge (13) congratulating Hong Kong on the progress made as well as offering any critical comments which may be thought appropriate.

6. I pass the file first to Mr. Chinn for any comments

he may wish to make.

1. 12. 50.

I agree that having regard to the difficulties which the authorities in Hong Kong have to face, the picture presented is not altogether unsatisfactory. It is good to note that certain of Mr. Chinn's recommendations have in fact already been partly or wholly implemented.

This despatch should be considered by the Reports Sub- Committee and possibly also by the Main Committee at its next meeting. It is therefore necessary to comment on one or two points which are almost certain to be raised by members of these committees.

The first concerns the question whether there should be a separate Social Welfare Department. I do not think that the arguments put forward by the Governor for not establishing an independent Social Welfare Department are altogether convincing. The Department already has its own budget. Its work is of a specialist nature and forms a separate and distinct function of Government. The argument that the Social Welfare Officer is able to perform any of the statutory functions of the Secretary for

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