ENG-1962 — Page 236

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SOCIAL WELFARE

work and who in many cases occupy leading positions in voluntary agencies. The Director of Social Welfare is chairman.

The capacity of non-profit-making day nurseries, creches and play centres increased by almost 1,500 to nearly 4,000 during the year, but this is still far short of the actual need. Additional impetus was given by a substantial grant from UNICEF for equip- ment for day nurseries, and a donation of over $750,000 from the American Government made possible the planning of a Children's Reception Centre in Kowloon. When completed next year the centre will have accommodation for 100 children and will act as a clearing-house where children can be placed while a well- considered plan is made for their future. The steady increase in the number of adoptions by Order of Court and the decrease in the number of children abandoned and in institutions were encouraging signs. Nearly all children abandoned were adopted into families in Hong Kong or abroad and partly due to the activities of inter- national agencies in this field applications for adoption could not be met in full.

A few voluntary agencies operate primarily to support poor children in their own homes by providing them with money, clothes, school fees, etc., so that families need not disintegrate under economic stress and strain. Well over 7,000 children were assisted in this way during the year and there were indications that this most useful form of assistance was increasing. Children's libraries are always popular and 1962 saw five more opened-two at Kwun Tong resettlement estate and one each at Ngau Tau Kok resettlement area, Shau Kei Wan and Tai Po. A grant by UNICEF enabled the department to replace the mobile library which had served the New Territories for seven years, and the extra-mural courses in librarianship at the University of Hong Kong provided useful training for those in the department and in voluntary agencies responsible for maintaining library services.

The formation of the Federation of Youth Groups was an important development in work with teenagers as it provides an organization for co-ordinating activities for this key section of the population. Another important development was the appointment of an operating authority for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme in Hong Kong. The scheme was initiated by the Duke as a challenge to endeavour and achievement for boys and girls