Social_Welfare_Annual_Report_1967-1968 — Page 54

138. In the course of the year the Hong Kong Council of Social Service was considering the setting up of a Centralized Research Inventory of all research projects, whether already published, or in progress, or planned. It was hoped that the establishment of this machinery would prevent duplication of effort. The Department was also planning a small survey on street-beggars with the assistance of some students of the Chinese University to see what their needs were and whether these could be met by existing services of the Department.

139. The Hong Kong Social Workers' Association continued to enjoy a successful year giving career talks to 34 schools and providing a pro- gramme of lectures, discussions and film shows on social work subjects. Two issues of the Social Work Journal were turned out last year and the organization was busily engaged on a study of Special Problems in Hong Kong in conjunction with the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. Nearing the end of the year the Association was exploring new methods of spurring its 303 members to greater partic- ipation in its activities.

CONCLUSION

140. In the maintenance and development of any programme there are always tensions. In this 1967-68 was no exception. The prolonged emergency in all the forms which it took at different stages created problems for every department. While the Social Welfare Department was not perhaps in the spearhead of confrontation, its operations were exposed to the difficulties and dangers produced by the disturbed con- ditions that were prevalent for so many months. In a department which provides direct services to the public not only at government offices and institutions but also at the homes of clients or in public places, the difficulties of getting about daily, often late at night and in areas and conditions where there was potential or actual danger to life and prop- erty were very real. The imposition of curfews, often at short notice, even though it was necessary, interrupted work with clients and deferred the solution of their problems, when interviews had to be terminated so that they could get home. The additional problems of handling recalcitrant and militant young Communists committed to the Depart- ment's custody, without sacrificing the interests and needs of the ordinary residents of our homes, and without loss of discipline or risk

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