Joint Service to Refugees, under their programmes of resettle- ment abroad. Several thousands of distressed foreigners from China were resettled in America, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and other territories. With the enactment by the U.S. Government in 1953 of the Refugee Relief Act, both organizations took on the interviewing and registration of Chinese applicants for emigration to the U.S.A.
57. Care for the aged in Hong Kong was in the main well-provided for within the strong family system of the Chinese. However, to meet the needs of those who were without means of support, religious organizations ran three old people's homes. A site was allotted to another charitable organization to build an additional home which will take in 100 more old folk.
CHAPTER XI
EMERGENCY RELIEF
58. The experience gained in handling the 58,000 victims of the disastrous fire at Shek Kip Mei at Christmas 1953 proved invaluable to Social Welfare Office staff during the year when no fewer than 55,000 persons were rendered homeless by nine major and 25 minor fires (one at Tai Hang Tung on July 22nd, 1954, accounting for 24,701). In addition to registering these 55,000 victims, the Social Welfare Office provided during the year some 13 million free meals for approximately 112,000 persons.
59. Fortunately a new and permanent kitchen for mass- cooking was ready for use in April, 1954 and greatly facilitated the Relief Section's enormous task. After almost every big fire clothing and blankets were distributed either by the British Red Cross Society (Hong Kong Branch) or the Church World Service, and a Relief Committee was formed under the auspices usually of a Kaifong Association to co-ordinate distribution of non-government relief consisting mainly of rice or cash grants.
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