Social_Welfare_Annual_Report_1968-1969 — Page 31

74. Budgeted expenditure on public assistance for the year increased by $2 million over the previous year to $4.7 million. This increase in expenditure is attributable to an increasing number of applications for public assistance which is itself the probable result of various improvements made in the forms of aid available. Whereas at the end of March 1968 the Department was giving aid to some 5,148 individuals and families, this figure had increased by over 36% to 7,017 at the end of the year under review. This trend of increase is expected to continue.

75. As already mentioned in paragraph 9 in Chapter I, the Depart- ment undertook a review of broad aims and policy for its public assistance programme with a view to introducing a more extensive and comprehensive scheme of aid for needy individuals and families.

76. The Principal Social Welfare Officer (Public Assistance) is also responsible for the administration of emergency relief which is pro- vided unconditionally for people made homeless in natural disasters, fires and similar occurrences. Emergency relief is mainly given in the form of hot meals which are cooked at and delivered from two large kitchens situated at Happy Valley and Hung Hom which can produce up to 110,000 meals a day. During the year, Hong Kong was affected by two major natural disasters. A heavy rainstorm in June 1968 brought about landslides which caused the death of 22 persons and injuries to 7 others, while rendering 886 persons homeless. The latter were given temporary shelter, food and financial assistance from the Community Relief Trust Fund to the extent of $191,173.75. Typhoon Shirley, which struck the Colony in August 1968, brought disaster to another 172 persons who were similarly provided with shelter and food. Grants from the Community Relief Trust Fund for the repair or reconstruction of damaged houses and the loss of crops and livestock amounted to $717,056. Other disasters including 27 fires, 16 closures of dangerous buildings, 7 house collapses and 1 shipwreck, added another 3,146 persons to the number of persons given emergency assistance. Total disbursements from the Community Relief Trust Fund during the year amounted to $1,162,324.88.

77. In addition to the duties of administering public assistance and emergency relief the Principal Social Welfare Officer (Public Assistance) also assists the Director of Legal Aid by investigating the financial means of persons applying for legal aid. During the year his staff dealt with 1,061 of these applications.

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