ENG-1956 — Page 204

SOCIAL WELFARE

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and the many unofficial religious and voluntary welfare bodies has always been close and harmonious, and this has drawn particular comment from welfare workers visiting the Colony from overseas. It is Government's policy to encourage wherever possible that spirit of service to the community which is so characteristic of Hong Kong, and the Social Welfare Office is the direct link between the Government and the voluntary welfare organizations, both Chinese and non- Chinese.

The welfare problems which exist in this overcrowded Colony are so varied and so vast, and the combined resources of the welfare organizations so limited by comparison, that any danger of serious overlapping of effort could not arise at present even if there were no co-ordination of any kind. But in fact, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service exists as the co-ordinating body for some thirty or more of the larger voluntary organizations which are affiliated to it, whilst the Colony's Social Welfare Advisory Committee-of which the Social Welfare Officer is the Chairman and only Govern- ment member-advises Government on social welfare matters and helps to draw up policy for the further development of welfare work. Co-ordination of group activities particularly related to the welfare of young people is effectively carried out by the Standing Conference of Youth Organizations.

Apart from social welfare in the narrower sense, which is the special field of the Social Welfare Officer working in the closest touch with voluntary effort, Government has undertaken a vast welfare programme in the wider sense of the term, which includes the rehousing of squatters, the extension and improvement of medical and educational facilities, and industrial welfare. These matters are the con- cern of the Resettlement, Medical, Education, and Labour departments respectively, and are dealt with in other chapters. They should, however, be remembered when reading this chapter, so that a complete picture of welfare work in Hong Kong can be formed.