Social_Welfare_Annual_Report_1954-1955 — Page 8

children in the Colony, constituting a considerable challenge to the Youth Welfare Organizations. Squatter settlements reached such proportions and constituted such fire and health risks that Government found it necessary to set up a separate Department of Resettlement which made rapid progress in rehousing fire- victims already in the streets, and clearing fire-lanes through existing squatter areas. Nevertheless before this Department was well under way another disastrous fire on 22nd July, 1954, rendered 24,701 persons homeless-to be followed before the end of the year by other fires throwing 29,000 out of their homes. In the face of these tremendous problems both Governmental and voluntary welfare agencies were moving towards the ex- pansion and extension of existing policies and the provision of new services to meet new needs.

4. In the last quarter of the period under review, the distribution of approximately eight million dollars worth of food supplies consisting of rice, beans, beef, oil, butter etc. generously made available through the U.S. Foreign Operations Administra- tion (F.O.A.) working in closest co-operation with the inter- national voluntary agencies, over-shadowed all other Social Welfare matters. This was by far the largest and most widespread relief project to take place in the Colony since the end of the war-and involved the handling and issue to needy families of food packages totalling 365,772 in number, of which 85% were received through the National Catholic Welfare Conference of America, and the remaining 15% through C.A.R.E. Inc. and the Lutheran World Federation. Official and voluntary welfare agencies, religious organizations and, in the New Territories, Rural Committees, all took part in the distribution. The various sections of the Social Welfare Office also issued parcels to families under their care, while a first consignment of 5,330 cartons of sweetened condensed milk comprising appro- ximately 260,000 fourteen ounce tins, a gift from H.B.M.'s Government, arrived in October 1954, and these were handed over to 40 organizations and institutions.

5. During the year, voluntary and official social welfare organization benefited much from the interest and encourage- ment of distinguished personages. Sir Alexander and Lady

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