Social_Welfare_Annual_Report_1971-1972 — Page 29

period of one year. It is entirely 'open' with no element of detention and is intended as an ancillary aid to successful probation treatment. The young men are expected normally to be at work and earning a living. The Hostel, as a temporary substitute for a natural home, in a simple routine of living, provides warmth, understanding and appro- priate guidance.

VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS

75. Offenders described as 'socially handicapped' are as much in need of welfare services as others who are handicapped in another way. In this connection officers of the Probation Service liaise with the staff of voluntary welfare organizations engaged in similar work. A close liaison is maintained with the Hong Kong Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society and the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts and the Probation Service is grateful for facilities made avail- able by these agencies and various voluntary welfare institutions, par- ticularly the Hong Kong Juvenile Care Centre, the Salvation Army's Norway Hostel, the Rennies Mill Student Aid Project and the Society of Boys' Centres.

CHAPTER VI

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE DIVISION

76. The Public Assistance Division is responsible for all public assistance policy matters; with field units responsible for dealing with applications, investigations, assessments, authorizations of payment and periodic reviews of cases. The Division is also responsible for the administration of emergency relief which is provided for people made homeless in natural disasters, fires and similar occurrences. The Administration Branch of the Department is responsible inter alia for the overall direction and supervision of the payments, inspections and audit sections of public assistance cases. The number of staff dealing with public assistance cases was increased from 168 to 203 during the year, to cope with the increasing number of cases. Furthermore as a proportion of families eligible for public assistance also require other social welfare services, more staff were required to cope with casework and counselling in other Divisions of the Department.

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