Social_Welfare_Annual_Report_1963-1964 — Page 9

SOCIAL WELFARE IN HONG KONG

3. The specific social welfare services are, primarily those which help to rehabilitate or re-orientate those who cannot otherwise stand on their own feet as independent members of the community, unless they first get well-judged and constructive support. Not all the services which are taken for granted in Britain and other parts of Western Europe, or in North America are in existence, or even yet in prospect, in Hong Kong to-day. There is no National Assistance Ordinance, no Family Allowances Ordinance, no Blind Persons Ordinance; but the absence of legislation for a public service in a particular field should not be construed as im- plying lack of concern, still less of assistance, on the part either of the Government or of the voluntary agencies, for those who are in genuine need. This report will generally show the contrary, and will demonstrate the falsity of two frequently expressed opinions the oversea opinion that Hong Kong is only interested in its industrial success and not in solving its social problems; and the local opinion that social workers spend their time in talking or writing theory, or indulging in jargon or argument about what social work is, instead of getting down to a produc- tive job of work-highly productive in terms of human values.

PRIORITIES

4. In the press of problems and population which is Hong Kong in 1964, it is essential to concentrate the limited resources of skilled manpower, money and land upon the most pressing needs of the people. Decisions on priorities are the responsibility of the legislative and major policy-making organs of the Government. The basic and ob- vious social services (housing, education, health and water) tend to absorb the lion's share of these resources. The high rate of natural increase of the population alone, not to speak of the progressive arrival of so many immigrants from China, have placed a continuing burden upon an econ- omy which is almost entirely dependent on oversea trade and markets and is founded upon the skill, application and resource of the people of Hong Kong and their willingness to live and work in grossly congested surroundings and in arduous conditions. Any plans for the social needs of the population, which now numbers considerably over three and a half millions, have therefore to be kept within strict economic and finan- cial bounds, so that the Government is obliged to concentrate on those social services that contribute directly to the self-reliance of individuals

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