ENG-1960 — Page 228

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SOCIAL WELFARE

Church World Service, Catholic Relief Services and the Lutheran World Federation were the major distributors of supplementary foodstuffs, which came to about 15,000 tons of rice, as well as flour, milk powder and other supplies, mostly surplus foodstuffs from the United States; these supplies benefited 10% or more of the population. The British Red Cross Society provided large quantities of clothing and blankets. The traditional Chinese Clan, District and Trade Associations do valuable relief work for their members and the Kaifong Associations help to raise funds and give relief in emergencies. The Tung Wah Groups of Hospitals, referred to in other chapters of this Report, has a long history as a source of charity for the assistance of destitutes.

This heavy dependence upon public and private assistance comes at a time when the economy is buoyant and industry expanding, and wage levels have improved. Any serious recession would raise relief problems of very great proportions. The Family Planning Association, which works in 26 existing clinics and in other centres, has lately opened a second large centre of its own in Kowloon, and relieves at least in a small degree the menacing pressure of population upon the economy. It is to be hoped that planned parenthood will be generally accepted before the expected population explosion of the nineteen seventies swamps the social services.