ENG-1957 — Page 257

SOCIAL WELFARE

219

Large sums of money as capital grants have been given by the Church World Service to aid such relief projects as the Haven of Hope T.B. Sanatorium, Faith-Hope Nursery, St. James' Settlement Feeding Project, and the Holy Carpenter Youth Centre.

In the field of emergency relief, 1957 was a busy year. Fires, a flood and a typhoon affected over 30,000 persons. In May a total of 14,539 flood victims were registered following the heaviest rainfall since 1889, which inundated over forty acres in the urban districts and the New Territories. The next major disaster was caused by typhoon Gloria which swept over the Colony in September, damaging the homes of 10,689 persons. Two fires, at Canton Road in February and at Ship Yard Street, Sham Shui Po, in August, must also be mentioned, as the former resulted in a heavy loss of 58 lives, whilst the latter rendered 2,914 victims homeless. Immediately after registration, the Social Welfare Office either served hot meals or issued dry rations to the victims of these disasters as their circumstances required, whilst food parcels, used clothing, monetary grants and temporary shelter were given by voluntary welfare organizations such as C.A.R.E., the British Red Cross Society, the Kaifongs, the Catholic Welfare Committee of China, and the Church World Service.