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SOCIAL WELFARE

At the end of 1977, the number of active public assistance cases totalled 48,176, compared with 49,899 at the end of 1976. Expenditure on public assistance for the 1976-7 financial year amounted to $147.6 million.

The welfare allowance scheme (previously known as the disability and infirmity allowance scheme) provides monthly allowances for members of specified vulnerable groups, irrespective of their means, so long as they do not receive care in any residential institution. At present, the scheme provides allowances at the basic rate of $100 a month for those aged 75 and over, and at a higher rate of $200 a month for those who are severely disabled. The number of people drawing such allowances at the end of 1977 was 78,735, an increase of 7,477 over last year's figure. Expenditure on payments in the 1976-7 financial year was $89.6 million, an increase of $11.4 million over the previous year.

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The criminal and law enforcement injuries compensation scheme is designed to compensate victims of crimes of violence or those who are accidentally injured by law enforcement officers in the execution of their duties. This scheme also is non- means-tested and non-contributary. In 1977, a total of 220 awards amounting to $6.4 million were made.

Emergency Relief

The Social Welfare Department plays a key role in providing emergency relief to disaster victims. Such relief is provided in the form of hot meals, milk powder for infants and other basic essentials, including blankets, ground mats, eating utensils and toilet accessories. With the demolition of the Happy Valley kitchen in November, 1977, cooked meals were provided solely by the Kowloon kitchen. In addition to material assistance, injury, burial and death grants are available from the Emergency Relief Fund. During the year, assistance was given to 3,466 registered victims in- volved in 98 disasters. Payments made from the Emergency Relief Fund amounted to $2 million.

Training of Social Workers

Social work training is available in Hong Kong at degree, diploma and certificate levels. Both the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong award degrees and diplomas in social work. The Institute for Social Work Training, which offered a certificate course for social workers, has been integrated into the Hong Kong Polytechnic as the School of Social Work since September, 1977. The school runs a two-year, full-time training course for non-graduate social workers, a one-year course for child care workers, and other part-time day-release courses for experienced social workers.

The Training Section of the Social Welfare Department is responsible for providing in-service training, which includes refresher courses and staff development courses for social workers employed by the government or voluntary agencies. The Training... Section also operates a demonstration nursery that provides a day care service for 100 children and, at the same time, serves as a training ground for child care workers. To help young people who wish to receive social work training, a number of bur- saries and scholarships is offered by the Social Work Training Fund, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and private donors.