by the voluntary agencies and the Kaifong Associations but also by the Social Welfare Department. There are now records of 92,000 cases.
101. Another important aim of the Council of Social Service is to initiate schemes in new fields of social work. In March 1959, as mentioned in paragraph 74, the Resettlement Estates Loan and Savings Association was inaugurated and by the end of the year plans were well advanced for the launching of an Employment Assistance Scheme.
102. In the field of youth group work the Standing Conference of Youth Organizations brings together representatives of the majority of the voluntary agencies and of the government departments concerned in youth welfare.
103. The Hong Kong Social Workers" Association has a membership of just over 100 drawn from the staffs of voluntary organizations and government departments. It aims to improve co-operation in all fields of social work through contacts between its members, and arranges talks, discussions and social gatherings.
104. This Report would not be complete without a warm tribute being paid to the admirable work being done by the large number of voluntary organizations and institutions which operate in Hong Kong, references to some of which have already been made in other chapters. A large proportion of the total expenditure of Government on social welfare work is in fact in the form of subventions to voluntary agencies, and some idea of the range and extent of their work can be gained by a glance at Appendix 4. In addition to those receiving subventions there are also several large international agencies doing extensive relief work, such as those listed in Appendix 16. While it cannot be claimed that the co-ordination of voluntary and official welfare work is yet perfect there is no doubt that it has been greatly improved in recent years. The close and cordial relations which exist not only between the representatives of the voluntary agencies who work together as members of the Council of Social Service, but also between them and the staff of the Social Welfare Department are indeed a source of encourage- ment and a good augury for the future progress of welfare work in Hong Kong with its ever growing social needs.
16th July, 1959.
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A. ST. G. WALTON, Director of Social Welfare,
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