ENG-1961 — Page 224

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SOCIAL WELFARE

substantial number of over-age children attending primary schools. When home for many of these children is likely to be only a room or a bedspace or perhaps a corner of a gloomy staircase, the lure of the streets is very strong. The streets are at the best of times a poor training ground for citizenship, but in Hong Kong, where the dangers from triads or 'protection' racketeers, drug pedlars and motor traffic are especially great, street life is that much more undesirable. To get some of the younger children off the streets and to provide them with proper recreation and informal education, the Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association and its affiliated organizations run over 200 clubs for nearly 13,000 children. A donation from the Norwegian Refugee Council made possible the opening of a hostel and club for homeless street boys by the British Commonwealth Save the Children Fund. The YMCA, YWCA, the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides provide con- structive outlets for a few more thousands, but there are still many more who need help.

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In the past Hong Kong has been less seriously affected than some countries by juvenile delinquency and teenage violence; but there is no room for complacency. The young people of Hong Kong, like the youth of many other countries, are growing up in a world of changing standards. Traditional values are rapidly disappearing and there is now the painful process of groping for new ones. During this period of re-adjustment youth must be helped, guided and befriended, and a need arises for youth counselling, group work and organized activities. At the same time, scope and outlet must be found, within the cramped Hong Kong environment, for the adventurous energies and the competitive and enterprising spirit of young people, if they are to develop in sympathy with the community, and not as rebels. Young people must be encouraged to formulate ideas and this means more schools, libraries and discussion groups.

Welfare services for young people between the ages of 15 and 24 are at present very limited. It is estimated that about five per cent only of the 360,000 people between these ages are touched by any form of group activity.

There are 40 libraries operated by voluntary agencies and by the Social Welfare Department, but these can cater for a capacity readership of only about 11,000, many of them young children.