ENG-1961 — Page 223

SOCIAL WELFARE

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moves the fact remains that the provision of an adequate number of trained social workers will for some time remain one of the main problems facing those responsible for the planning and expansion of social welfare services.

The need of voluntary agencies for better trained personnel, for example for caseworkers in many fields, for instructors in practical training and in child care and for institutional staff, is growing and is likely to grow even more rapidly. Further demand for more social workers arises from the community centre programme, the steadily mounting number of applications for adoption of children by Order of Court, the increase in the number of offenders entrusted by magistrates to the supervision of probation officers, and the pressing need for social investigations, surveys and practical research.

The importance of planning for the future was not overlooked. This will be greatly facilitated by the appointment, which was made in 1961, of a professional Assistant Director of Social Welfare. During the year the Department began consultations with other Government departments and with voluntary welfare agencies on the needs and pattern of social work over the next five years. If there is to be orderly development, geared to providing constructive services with steadily improving standards, such forward planning is essential. There is need for a-careful assessment of the scale and rate of growth of the various services and of relative priorities, if the most effective use is to be made of scarce resources, without duplication or waste.

The 1961 Census (see Chapter 1) confirmed that a large and growing proportion of the population is made up of young people. Over 50% of the total population are under 25 years of age and 41% are under 15. A wide range of services and facilities is needed to ensure the physical and mental development of the young, facilities ranging from day nurseries and playgrounds to youth clubs and recreation centres, from libraries and schools to holiday camps and moral guidance.

Many existing facilities fall short of needs. For example, in spite of a substantial part of Hong Kong's resources being devoted to primary education, resulting in nearly half-a-million children attending such schools, there are still many young children who cannot find places. This is largely because of the