Hong Kong Family Welfare Society, which is generously sub- sidized by Government. During the year, this Society found regular employment for 275 people, obtained licences for 178 others, and in all assisted an average of 13,000 people each month, which included the making of 400 home visits. | The Relief Section of the Social Welfare Office also helps families in need in a similar way, and makes home visits, assisting people to obtain hawkers' licences, conducting a letter-writing service for illiterates, and referring urgent cases for medical attention, etc. The Women and Girls Section has also recently begun the work of counselling in family disputes in a modest way, and during the year helped 44 couples to solve their problems.
38. It is appropriate to mention here also the traditional role played by the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs in the settle- ment of family disputes and other personal problems (see the Secretary for Chinese Affairs Annual Report for greater detail), and the help given at local Police Stations in the resolving of simple family disputes. In the New Territories such family cases are dealt with by the N.T. Administration.
39. In a special category of family welfare work is attempted suicide, all cases of which are referred to the Relief Section for casework and such help and advice as are possible. Statistics show that the main cause of attempted suicide in Hong Kong is financial distress, but second to this as a cause is family maladjustment and domestic strife. The case-workers of the Relief Section give much time and patient effort to the task of helping these unfortunate people to face life again with confidence. (See Appendix XII).
CHAPTER VIII
MORAL WELFARE
40. There are no licensed houses in Hong Kong, but just as in all other large seaports, the social problems of prostitution here are very grave.
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