ENG-1969 — Page 205

9

Social Welfare

THE Social Welfare Department is responsible for carrying out Government's policies for social welfare and it operates through four main divisions: the Group and Community Work Division, the Family Services Division, the Probation and Correction Divi- sion, and the Training Section. The first division aims at the develop- ment of responsible citizenship through promotion of regular and seasonal community activities; the second is responsible for a wide range of social welfare services to help individuals and families; the third provides probation services in the courts and rehabilitation in its correctional institutions for young offenders; and the Training Section provides in-service training for the staff of the department and of voluntary welfare organisations.

The Government is advised on all matters of social welfare policy and on applications from voluntary welfare organisations for sub- ventions by a Social Welfare Advisory Committee. This is a com- mittee appointed by the Governor consisting of leading unofficials, chaired by the Director of Social Welfare.

The department maintains close contact and co-operation with many voluntary welfare organisations, which generally play a supple- mentary role in the overall provision of social welfare services. Appendix XLVI lists 86 voluntary welfare organisations which are affiliated to the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. Many of these organisations receive a government subvention but they also attract considerable financial support for their activities both overseas and locally. Local support may be gauged in the light of donations made particularly to the Community Chest of Hong Kong which raised some $6.5 million in aid of the work of 43 member organisations.

Social welfare services continue to grow and expand. Apart from increased spending for the maintenance of existing services and the establishment of new capital projects generally associated with normal progress, there have also been significant new developments,