ENG-1965 — Page 187

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SOCIAL WELFARE

each university. The Social Work Training Fund approved grants amounting to $199,258 in support of university courses, and granted $230,000 to seven individuals to take training courses. locally or abroad.

The training unit of the Social Welfare Department continued its work for the staff of voluntary agencies and government depart- ments. During the year courses for day nursery workers were doubled in view of the rapid increase in nurseries. Altogether 133 welfare workers completed training. The training unit also assisted in conducting agency staff training programmes. The unit's establishment was doubled from three to six training officers, with the invaluable support of a further two-year grant from the United Nations Children's Fund.

In October a short visit by Mr Henry Labouisse, recently appointed Executive Director of UNICEF, accompanied by the Regional Director Mr Brian Jones, gave an opportunity to express Hong Kong's appreciation of the key role played by the fund in supporting the establishment and expansion of the training unit and also in the development of children's day nurseries and youth work.

CONCLUSION

At the end of the year a joint planning committee of the Social Welfare Department and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service was engaged in drafting a co-ordinated plan for the development of official and voluntary social welfare services over the next five years. The plan is likely to consist of over 20 chapters, covering all services and fields of work. Meanwhile, Professor Lady Williams, who recently retired from the Chair of Social Economics at the University of London, was invited by the government to advise whether a survey of social welfare services in Hong Kong would be feasible and valuable. Lady Williams, whose visit is financed by a grant from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, arrived shortly before Christmas and her findings are expected to be of special value in relation to planning.

Hong Kong is exceptionally fortunate in having such a great range of voluntary welfare organizations, locally-based and inter- national, religious, secular and traditional. Their combined efforts