ENG-1957 — Page 253

SOCIAL WELFARE

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In the field of care of the aged, the Little Sisters of the Poor have prepared plans for the erection at Aberdeen of another Home for 400 old people, which will bring the total number receiving institutional care to approximately 1,500. The Mental Health Association had a stimulating year. Many interesting lectures and discussions were arranged, whilst three members of the Association attended the 10th Annual Meeting of the World Federation for Mental Health, held in August at Copenhagen.

With a view to putting into action some of the recom- mendations of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service's sub-committee on the care of Mental Defectives, the Pro- vincial of the St. John of God Brothers in Ireland has been invited to visit Hong Kong and advise on the possibility of establishing a home for mental defectives. Meanwhile, facilities in the North Point Relief Camp, which shelters 24 mentally defective children, were greatly improved by the recruitment of two additional workers. A teacher organizes occupational activities for these children.

Community Development. The Kaifong, or neighbour- hood associations, of Hong Kong and Kowloon have come a long way since they were revived and modernized in 1949 with the setting up of the Sham Shui Po Kaifong Welfare Advancement Association. With the advice and close co- operation of the Community Development Section of the Social Welfare Office, these, voluntary associations have entered the fields of education, health and emergency relief. The extent of their achievements can be measured by the following figures for 1957:

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(i) Total membership of the 26 recognized Kaifong Wel- fare Associations reached 50,461 family units, the equivalent of some 370,000 persons.

(ii) 326,033 persons received medical care at 17 free

clinics.

(iii) 7,715 poor children received primary education at 23

free schools.

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