ENG-1963 — Page 255

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SOCIAL WELFARE

or milk. More of this foodstuff was used to provide a hot midday meal for school children. The Colony was fortunate in suffering only one major mishap during the year, a squatter fire at Fuk Wah Village in which over 5,000 people were made homeless; other minor disasters added some 3,000 to the list of victims. In the aftermath of such natural disasters, agencies such as the Kai Fong Welfare Associations, the British Red Cross Society, the Salvation Army and those mentioned above were always ready to give timely assistance to the victims in the form of cash grants, food, clothing and utensils.

Youth Welfare. An important first step was taken in the field of youth work by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, formed nearly two years ago, which opened its first five youth centres in different parts of the Colony. The federation also established three youth hostels in New Territories schools, where 30 young people at a time may spend the night in the course of cycling or hiking expeditions. The extensive coastline of the New Territories with its many islands offers great scope for canoeing and sports which provide many boys with an outlet for energy and high spirits and with a reason to learn how to build boats.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme which was launched in 1962 proved increasingly popular. Almost all who entered in 1963 for the awards did so through a friend who had participated earlier. Interest in the scheme was greatly stimulated when the Governor presented the first 31 bronze and four silver awards to boys aged 14 to 19 in January and to the first gold award winner in Hong Kong in July. The Commander British Forces later made a second presentation to 44 boys. A pilot scheme for 60 girls was also initiated, the intention being to throw open the girls' scheme to all who are interested early next year. The Social Welfare and Education Departments, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, set up a training and recreation centre at Tsuen Wan where 50 boys and girls at a time can enjoy outdoor pursuits and training.

The Silver Mine Bay Holiday Camp run by the Hong Kong Conference of Youth Organizations continued to provide a week's holiday by the sea for some 3,500 children during the year. As an experiment, children from selected primary schools spent a week there with their teachers in school work combined with

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