CHAPTER XIII
INDUSTRIAL AND SEAMEN'S WELFARE
76. Responsibility for the care of workers in registered factories and workshops rests with the Labour Department. Additional work connected with this field of welfare however accrued to the Social Welfare Office from August, 1954 when, by administrative arrangement, the District Courts were to have the advice of the Social Welfare Officer in determining in each case of a fatal industrial accident, whether compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance 1953, should, in the best interests of the dependants of the deceased, be payable to them in a lump sum or by instalments. The work of investigating the circumstances of the dependants of each deceased workman was handled by the General Duties Section which in addition was able to help the dependants in other ways, such as arrang- ing for those in dire need to receive relief pending receipt of compensation and assisting others to secure hawkers' licences.
77. A number of firms and industrial establishments have welfare facilities such as clinics, canteens, etc. for their workers, amongst which may be specially mentioned the 2 welfare centres of the Taikoo Dockyard Co. and the Hong Kong Tramways Co. which are on a most lavish scale. Several voluntary organizations also cater for the welfare of industrial workers through the provision of hostels for working youths, and playgrounds, stadia etc. Many workers benefited from recreational programmes operated by the Children's Playground Association and by the Kaifong or Neighbourhood Associations, whilst the Thomson Memorial Boys' Hostel run by the Salva- tion Army and the two hostels for industrial girls run by the Y.W.C.A. accommodated 56 apprentices and lads in the low wage bracket and 70 factory girls.
78. The Port Welfare Committee which was first appointed by Government in 1948 to further and co-ordinate the welfare of visiting merchant seamen of all races, had another successful
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