SOCIAL WELFARE
217
The success of the three Women's Welfare Clubs, formed in 1955, is marked not only by some very solid achieve- ments within a short time, but also by the enthusiasm of their members, who aim at setting an example by personal participation in welfare activities. The work of these Women's Welfare Clubs includes not only the running of classes in sewing, knitting, embroidery, rattanwork, and cooking but also the establishment of reading classes, free evening schools, clinics and nurseries. One woman officer of the Community Development Section and three leaders of Women's Welfare Clubs attended the United Nations. Seminar on Civic Responsibility and Increased Participa- tion of Asian Women in Public Life, which was held recently in Bangkok.
Public Assistance. Despite its steady expansion, local industry has been only partially successful in absorbing the abundant manpower which has flowed into the Colony from China in recent years. Under-employment, particularly amongst the unskilled, has reduced a proportion of-the population to poverty and want. The major problem with which public assistance agencies, both official and non- official, have to contend is the inadequate earnings of those who strive to maintain themselves by precarious and part- time work. As a result of the refugee problem, many of the under-employed are ill-housed, ill-fed and unable to obtain medical attention for themselves and their families.
Although much progress, described elsewhere in the Report, has already been made with the expansion of the social services to cope with these problems, the magnitude of the task precludes any easy or immediate remedy. There is therefore a very real need for the present extensive pro- gramme of distribution of relief goods in which voluntary organizations figure prominently. Since 1955 over 50,000,000 lbs. of food valued at US$4,500,000 have been brought into Hong Kong by the Catholic Welfare Committee of China for distribution to over 90,000 poor people, and over 1,000
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