Social_Welfare_Annual_Report_1964-1965 — Page 58

more harm than good; space, whether in buildings or in land, is perhaps the most unyielding of our straitjackets; as for money, the taxpaying community of Hong Kong has views on priorities in expenditure on the social services in general that must be respected, the competing demands on the proceeds of revenue to pay for essential works and staff are sub- stantial, and many of the oversea sources to which voluntary agencies look may tend to dry up or to be channelled to countries with more obvious, if less concentrated or complex, needs. There is the limitation of population: as it grows absolutely, so current services become diluted and have less impact at the same levels-the five millions or so of the 1970s may contribute more to revenue and production but they are likely also to need and expect more, and more developed, social welfare services. And there is the limitation of consultation: a beginning having been made in exchanging views with the unofficial organizations before taking major decisions, there can be no retreat; it would continue to be more expeditious, might conceivably even appear more efficient, to consult the Social Welfare Advisory Committee only and not the Hong Kong Council of Social Service before submitting planning proposals for decision-but would it be more sensible or more fruitful in the long run? In clashes between the heart and the mind time must elapse and compromises be made on both sides before agreement is reached. And the fifth limitation is our lack of knowledge: there can be no doubt that the results of research in depth are needed before anyone may with con- fidence claim or deny that the present services are correctly balanced and aimed or that the future unmet public requirements are such-and-such and should be tackled in such an order.

115. We are not over-proud therefore; indeed the social workers in this Department are humbled by the knowledge of the challenges still lying before them. I should like before signing this report to commend their high morale in what many people would find a very disheartening milieu, and their devotion and loyalty to their fellow citizens of Hong Kong when in misfortune or in need of social help. It is an honour to work with them. It is also invigorating-this is largely a young depart- ment not only in government standing but in its average of birthdays, which may account for our inability to dwell in the past and our obses- sion with advancing into a better future without too many glances over the shoulder. It is undesirable to mention individuals, but I will record three names of officers who left us during the year. Miss Jennie CHEUNG, Principal Social Welfare Officer, had been head of the department's children's work from the beginnings of the original post-war sub-depart-

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