SOCIAL WELFARE
The scout and guide movements are very active in the Colony. The Boy Scouts Association opened a new headquarters in June of this year and this will provide ample space for the expansion of scouting activities in coming years.
The Salvation Army and the Y.W.C.A. provide accommodation for employed youths with small incomes. The former runs a hostel for youths, mostly apprentices, and the latter two hostels for factory girls.
In recent years a great effort has been made to increase the recreational facilities for boys and girls. The Children's Playground Association strives to equip and maintain as many playing fields as possible for children who live in congested areas. The Association's "Queen Elizabeth II Youth Centre", opened in 1953, is yet another multi-functional centre with an up-to-date sports stadium. The playing fields at the Association's two centres are used by about 15,000 school children weekly, in addition to the numerous street children and young apprentices who use the ground each day.
The Hong Kong Junior Chamber of Commerce has established 12 children's libraries in various districts and these are of great value in helping to keep boys and girls away from street libraries, where the reading matter provided is not always suitable.
During the year over 2,500 children from poor families and orphanages spent a week's holiday at the Silvermine Bay Holiday Camp. A new wing has recently been added to this camp building and it is now capable of taking 100 children at each camping period. The main building of the Camp was a gift from the Rotary Club of Hong Kong and the Camp is run by
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