Social_Welfare_Annual_Report_1958-1959 — Page 27

workers, and many have progressed beyond the minimum standards required by the Labour Department. Besides dining and rest rooms, more than thirty clinics are provided by industrial concerns and at these doctors attend periodically each week to treat occupational and general diseases of the workers concerned and sometimes their families, in some cases free of charge. In some industrial undertakings canteens, non-profit-making co-operative stores, subsidized meals, free cooking facilities, barber shops, laundries, reading rooms and school rooms are provided. Many of the large concerns in the Colony provide accom- modation for their workers. Among the more prominent of such housing schemes are those of the Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Co. of Hong Kong Ltd., in association with the Taikoo Sugar Refining Co. Ltd., which pioneered workers' housing projects in Hong Kong over fifty years ago, the Hongkong Tramways Ltd., the China Motor Bus Co. Ltd., the Hongkong Electric Co. Ltd., the Hong Kong Telephone Co. Ltd., and the Star Ferry Co. Ltd. All these companies provide, in addition, welfare centres attached to the housing schemes. A number of firms provide accommodation of the dormitory type, and in such cases canteens are also provided which serve free or subsidized food. In eleven cases dormitory accommodation is provided free of charge. Many of the concerns which cannot afford to erect their own accom- modation either rent or buy tenement buildings for this purpose.

94. Some undertakings organize picnic excursions for their workers in the summer and walks in the country in the winter. Welfare facilities frequently include cinema shows, Cantonese opera, table tennis, libra- ries, sports grounds for football and basketball games, and in a few instances even swimming pools. In some cases free or subsidized schooling for workers' children, and free classes for adults are arranged. During the year several firms took advantage of the Workers' Playtime Programme organized by Radio Hong Kong. Several firms have a Welfare Officer and Welfare Department, and in others a member of the staff is in charge of personnel matters. Some voluntary organizations also cater for the welfare of industrial workers by providing hostels and playgrounds.

95. Arrangements for the welfare of seamen visiting Hong Kong are co-ordinated by the Port Welfare Committee, on which there is a representative of each of the major voluntary seamen's welfare organizations and a representative of the Social Welfare and other interested Government departments. The Committee divided the funds collected by the annual appeal ($82,136) and the Government subvention

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