XN000022-1972-05-26 — Page 10

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Friday, May 26, 1972

KWAI CHUNG GIRLS' HOME

Visit By Wife Of Director Of Social Welfare

Mrs. G.T. Rowe, wife of the Director of Social Welfare, spent

more than an hour today visiting the Kwai Chung Girls' Home in Kwai Chung,

New Territories, maintained by the Salvation Army.

She was accompanied by Mrs. Dang Chow Sik-wan, Principal Social

Welfare Officer (Children and Women).

Mrs. Rowe and Mrs. Dang were received at the home by Brigadier E.

Bilton, the Superintendent, who introduced them to members of the staff

and showed them around.

The Salvation Army in Hong Kong is a branch of the International

Salvation Army with headquarters in London. It began work in Hong Kong in

1930 with the opening of a home for delinquent girls in rented premises in

Kowloon, later moved to Kwai Chung.

This girls' home was closed in January 1965 and the trainees were

transferred to the Ma Tau Wei Girls' Home. It was re-opened on October 5,

1971, at the request of the Social Welfare Department to accommodate girls

in need of care and protection, and to rehabilitate others with behaviour

and other problems.

The maximum capacity of the home is 50. The girls range in age

from 12 to 18 and the maximum length of stay is two years. All cases are

referred for admission either by the Social Welfare Department or by the court.

The Department provides casework service to the girls until they have settled

down, and afterwards, such services are continued by the caseworker of the home.

The home received a grant of $80,000 from the Lotteries Fund for the

capital cost of renovation. A subvention of $180,000 was recommended for 1972/73

for general expenses.

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