66. During recent years the Government of the United States of America has supplied to various international agencies in Hong Kong large quantities of foodstuffs, chiefly flour, cornmeal and milk powder. The Hong Kong Government provides free storage and transport within the Colony. The four main agencies responsible for the distribution of these foodstuffs are the Catholic Relief Services of the National Catholic Welfare Conference of the U.S.A., the Lutheran World Federation, Church World Service, and C.A.R.E. (Co-operative for American Re- mittances to Everywhere). Particulars are given at Appendix 16.
67. The distribution of flour, cornmeal and milk powder presents certain problems as these foodstuffs are not normally used in the prep- aration of Cantonese food. Two methods are being used to overcome the difficulties. The Catholic Relief Services have started noodle-making centres which use machines of their own invention and produce noodles which are more nourishing than those sold in the shops, as in addition to wheat flour (75%) they contain cornmeal and milk powder. During the year a total of 743,000 lbs. of noodles were produced. The other method is to distribute milk in liquid form for consumption on the spot as is done by the Church World Service's seven milk bars and by the Lutheran World Federation's mobile vans.
68. The Unitarian Service Committee of Canada supplied 95,000 lbs. of milk powder during the year. Its distribution to Government schools, boys' and girls' clubs and residential welfare institutions was arranged by the Department.
69. Of the $1,552,772 spent on relief and public assistance during the year, $1,268,155 was on free feeding. In addition $128,993 was spent on Emergency Relief which is the subject of the next Chapter.
70. Other forms of assistance given at the six welfare Centres during the year included advice to attempted suicide cases, letter-writing, assist- ance in finding jobs and referring cases to Government medical clinics and to voluntary agencies. An analysis of the causes of reported suicide cases is at Appendix 17. Similar relief work is done by several voluntary agencies, notably the Family Welfare Society, the Lutheran World Ser- vice and the Salvation Army, and co-ordination is achieved by a system of keeping Central Relief Records operated by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service.
71. The Relief Section also runs the North Point Welfare Camp where an average number of 400 homeless destitutes are housed and fed. It is the aim to make as many as possible of these persons self-
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