Social_Welfare_Annual_Report_1968-1969 — Page 45

Government and the voluntary organizations, the more relevant and appropriate should be the decisions for which Government must take the responsibility in the use of the resources which can be made available.

ADVISORY AND STATUTORY COMMITTEES

107. The Social Welfare Advisory Committee is, by its terms of reference, the advisory body to Government on all matters of social welfare policy. With the exception of the Director of Social Welfare, who is Chairman ex officio of the Committee, its members are prominent private citizens actively associated with voluntary welfare work; they are appointed in their individual capacity by the Governor. During the year the Committee advised Government on a number of important policy issues including matters related to social security, social welfare legislation and the creation of the Community Chest. It also considered applications for Government subventions and recom- mended disbursements amounting to $9.8 millions, applications for grants from the Lotteries Fund totalling $3.2 millions, as well as applications to hold flag days in 1969. In addition to the Social Welfare Advisory Committee the development of various social welfare measures are also guided by the work of the Advisory Committee on Social Work Training, the Social Work Training Fund Committee and the Community Relief Trust Fund Committee, whose terms of reference are set out in Appendix 2 and whose functions are described in Chapter IV and V.

A DECADE OF PROGRESS

108. 1968-69 is the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Department, and it may be appropriate to conclude this report with a brief review of progress made and a tentative forecast for the future.

109. Some measure of the growth of social welfare services over the past decade may be judged by the increase in size of the Depart- ment. In January 1958 the newly formed Department had a staff of just over 350 working in 14 offices, centres and institutions situated mainly in the urban areas. By 1969, these numbers have increased to an establishment of 1,067 working in 67 offices, centres and institutions of which 12 are situated in the New Territories.

110. Mere numbers may, however, be misleading, because they provide only a yardstick of size; more revealing perhaps are the major events and changes which have contributed to this growth.

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