ENG-1971 — Page 196

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SOCIAL WELFARE

125 and the majority of the deaths occurred when two ferries, the Fat Shan and the Lee Hong capsized and sank with their crews on board. The total number of people registered by the Social Welfare Department for assistance was 9,853. Apart from provid- ing temporary accommodation to those in need, the department also distributed hot meals, eating utensils, blankets and clothing. Payment from the Community Relief Trust Fund for burial, re- accommodation, damage to crops, the replacement of vessels, etc, amounted to over $4 million, most of which came from general

revenue.

Another major tragedy was a fire which took place in October on board the Jumbo floating restaurant which was under construc- tion in Aberdeen harbour. Thirty-four people were killed and 42 injured in the fire. Cash assistance paid from the Community Relief Trust Fund amounted to $165,100.

There were 106 minor natural disasters during the year which rendered 5,931 people homeless. Like the typhoon victims, they were given material and financial assistance by the Social Welfare Department and the Community Relief Trust Fund.

TRAINING

While the two universities continue to provide academic training in social work, the Training Section of the Social Welfare Depart- ment has expanded its programme of short term in-service training courses, seminars and workshops, to full-time and part-time courses lasting one academic year or more. Among the latter are the 12-month training course for youth workers, the 10-month train- ing course for people working with pre-school children, and the 13-month field teachers course. In 1971, a total of 830 people from both government and non-government welfare organisations attended the various training courses.

The expansion of the training programme was made possible partly by the increase of training staff and partly by the availability of modern facilities at the Lady Trench Day Nursery and Training Centre. The demonstration nursery, which provides day care for 100 children aged between two and five, represents a cross-section of family income groups. It has continued to operate successfully, and has been extensively used as a training ground and laboratory for child study by trainees of the nursery workers course and social science students from the universities.

Among the highlights of the year for the Training Section were the visits of four outstanding social work personalities. These