ENG-1957 — Page 252

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

Physically Handicapped was set up by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, its immediate objective being to establish a Rehabilitation centre for 100 crippled persons. This will be a pilot project which should reveal the extent of the need for such centres and for sheltered workshops, and should indicate the direction in which further expansion should take place. Meanwhile, the Society for the Relief of Disabled Children is planning to build another wing con- taining 50 to 60 beds, which will increase the accommoda- tion at its Sandy Bay Children's Convalescent Home to just

over 100.

In November a Sub-committee on the Welfare of the Deaf was formed by the Social Welfare Advisory Committee. This Sub-committee is about to carry out a survey on the condition of the deaf in order to make recommendations to the Government for their training and assistance. At present primary school education for approximately 200 deaf chil- dren is provided at the Hong Kong School for the Deaf and the Overseas Chinese School for Deaf and Dumb.

The total number of blind persons registered with the blind welfare unit of the Special Welfare Services Section was approximately 1,300 at the end of 1957. In addition to casework, four clubs have been started--two for children, one for adults and one for the aged blind. The inauguration of the Music Training Centre for 20 blind persons, sponsor- ed by the Hong Kong Ophthalmological Society, took place on 18th September; during this month the Hong Kong Junior Chamber of Commerce also presented 600 walking sticks painted red and white for the use of the blind in Hong Kong. The Ebenezer Home and School for the Blind, which has a total of 100 boarders and 19 day-pupils, started vocational training classes in typewriting, music and handi- crafts. The Honeyville Home for Blind Girls will make further progress in its work when the sister at present being trained in the United Kingdom returns shortly to Hong Kong.