ENG-1971 — Page 191

SOCIAL WELFARE

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play a significant supplementary role in the overall provision of social welfare services. Appendix 49 lists 91 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 locally and overseas. Local support may be gauged by the donations made to the Community Chest, which in 1971 exceeded its target of $8 million, to be distributed to 64 member organisations.

A Social Welfare Advisory Committee advises the Government on all matters of social welfare policy and on applications for subventions from voluntary welfare organisations. The committee is appointed by the Governor and consists of leading unofficials; the chairman is the Director of Social Welfare.

Social welfare services continue to grow and expand to meet changing needs and expectations in Hong Kong. The establishment of the department increased during the year from 1,427 posts to 1,519. Total government expenditure on social welfare including depart- mental costs, direct welfare services, subventions and allocations from the Lotteries Fund was $42,915,323, an increase of 27 per cent over 1970.

GROUP AND COMMUNITY WORK

Community development implies a process by which the people of an area are encouraged to acquire a better appreciation of their needs and problems and through mutual co-operation to promote their own well-being.

The Social Welfare Department plays a leading role in this and is responsible for the operation of eight community, social and youth centres. These centres provide facilities such as day nurseries, libraries, clubs for all ages, and a communal hall as well as casework services and various forms of vocational training. In this way they help develop social consciousness among the people in the com- munities and encourage the formation of groups sharing common interests. This inspires residents to develop a sense of responsibility to the group and eventually to the community to which they belong.

Group and community work is not confined only to community and social centres. District Community Officers have been appointed on an experimental basis to extend their work outside the limits of community and social centres. Their main task is to foster the