TNAG-0968-FCO40-1187-Development-of-social-policy-in-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 17

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Individual Welfare Services

53... Family welfare services are provided to preserve traditional family ties and to enable individuals and family members to deal with their personal and family problems. Services are provided on a district basis. They include counselling on such problems as family relationships, the abuse and ill-treatment of children and difficulties arising as a result of mental and physical disabilities, old age, unemployment, illness or death. The Department also provides care and protestion for children and young girls exposed to moral and other dangers, and the placement of children, elderly and disabled persons in appropriate institutions. For children found abandoned, lost or otherwise in need of protection the Department maintains a reception centre where they are provided with immediate temporary care.

54a

Services for the elderly are provided with the objective of promoting the well-being of the elderly through care in the community and by the community. These services, which are almost entirely provided by the voluntary sector, include hostel accommod tion, residential institutional facilities, social clubs and centres, and other community services. All these services and facilities

are to be expanded considerably under the White Faper.

55.

Personal social work among young people is designed to help those aged between 6-2 with the overall objective of reducing anti-social and delinquent behaviour. To this end the White Paper proposes expanded programmes for school social work, family life education and outreaching social work.

56.

A variety of other welfare services are provided by voluntary agencies, including counselling on family and marriage problems, child care, home help services, foster care and institutions for children and young people with special behavioural and family problems..

Frobation and Correction

57.

Probation Officers of the Social Welfare Department undertake statutory supervision of probationers, assist them in job and school placements, encourage their participation in social and recreational activities and provide them with family and group counselling. Probation officers also conduct enquiries into the background of offenders in order

•to assist in the determination or review of sentences by the courts or in connection with petitions.