ENG-1972 — Page 148

SOCIAL WELFARE

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The government is advised by the Social Welfare Advisory Committee on all matters of social welfare policy, on applications from voluntary welfare organisations for subventions, and on all applications for grants from the Lotteries Fund. This is a committee appointed by the Governor consisting of leading unofficials, chaired by the Director of Social Welfare. Working under the direction of the Social Welfare Advisory Committee is the Social Welfare Planning Committee, which is concerned with the forward planning and evaluation of social welfare services and was involved especially in the preparation of the White Paper and Five Year Plan. It comprises members of the voluntary social welfare agencies, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, and the Social Welfare Department and is also chaired by the Director of Social Welfare.

Hong Kong is exceptionally fortunate in having a great number of voluntary welfare agencies which play a very significant role in the social welfare field. Co- ordination of work in the social welfare field is achieved by the department and by the Council of Social Service both maintaining close contact and co-operation with these many voluntary agencies. Appendix 39 lists 93 voluntary 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 both locally and overseas. Local support may be gauged by the donations made to the Community Chest which in 1971-2 raised $9.4 million for distribution to 65 member organisations. A list of members of the Community Chest is given at Appendix 39.

The government provides the majority of the funds available for social welfare in Hong Kong. Total government expenditure on social welfare including departmental costs, direct welfare services, and subventions was $50,737,868.00 in the financial year 1971-2; the estimated expenditure for 1972-3 is $66,069,000.00. In addition 40 alloca- tions for capital projects amounting to $5,600,141.00 were made from the Lotteries Fund in the financial year 1971-2.

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. Since 1960, when the first community centre was opened by the Social Welfare Department, seven more com- munity and social centres have been added. Another seven such centres are being operated by voluntary agencies. These centres provide facilities for day nurseries, libraries, clubs for all ages, casework services, various forms of vocational training and a communal hall. There are six estate welfare buildings which conveniently bring together under one roof the welfare services for people living in resettlement estates.

Group and community work is not however confined to community centres and resettlement estates. Since February 1969 four officers have been appointed by the department, on an experimental basis, to work in four urban districts in close co- operation with the City District Officers. Their major efforts have been directed towards the development of volunteers and youth service teams, the co-ordination of the sum- mer programmes and advising community organisations and youth groups. Proposals