Social_Welfare_Annual_Report_1959-1960 — Page 31

to seamen in hospitals and a weekly film show was given for their benefit at the Matilda Hospital. Many outside activities were arranged with the help of a Ladies' Committee. The Apostleship of the Sea acquired a new launch which assisted greatly in the visiting of ships; this organization also introduced seamen to the Catholic Club, which is now in new quarters in Grand Building in the centre of Hong Kong. The staff of the Norwegian Seamen's Mission made 1,369 visits to Scandinavian ships during the year; this Mission also acquired a launch.

69. The Merchant Navy Club in Chatham Road, Kowloon for which the Port Welfare Committee is directly responsible, has provision for indoor games such as table tennis, and a football pitch and tennis courts. Only friendly matches are played at present but 163 games were arranged during the year. For a fuller account of welfare work for seamen, reference is invited to the Annual Report of the Port Welfare Committee.

CHAPTER XIII

COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL CENTRES

70. As a result of the World Refugee Year appeal a donation of HK$1,150,000 was received from the Government of the United States of America for the construction of a community centre. Building on a site at Wong Tai Sin Resettlement Estate began at the end of October. This Centre will be the first of a series and is scheduled for completion about May 1960. The standard plan for a Government 24 classroom primary school was used with minor modifications, in order that the building might be completed in the shortest possible time. Four volun- tary welfare organizations have been allotted accommodation in the Centre to run vocational and trade training courses, group work with young people, family case-work and a day nursery for 200 children of working mothers. The Department will be responsible for the adminis- tration of the Centre, for organizing recreation such as film shows, folk dancing and shadow boxing, for the operation of a library for adults and children, parents' clubs and group work for children between the ages of 8 and 14. Facilities will also be available for the training of social workers, including a small students' hostel and a social work library. The first introductory course in social welfare work for secondary school students, to be run in co-operation with the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, will begin as soon as the Centre is completed. Wong Tai Sin is already the second largest of the multi- storey resettlement estates, with 50,000 people, of whom some 18,000

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