ENG-1978 — Page 161

SOCIAL WELFARE

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mobility training, audiometric testing, vocational guidance and employment place- ment assistance. Residential care facilities are available in some centres for the more severely handicapped. With more educational facilities provided for deaf children, the demand for deaf children's clubs declined; hence two deaf clubs, in addition to three deaf clubs in 1977, were converted to training the moderate-grade mentally retarded. Evening recreational activities were provided for 200 young deaf adults at five children's training centres. Sheltered workshop places were increased by 140 with the opening of a new workshop in Pak Tin Estate.

During 1978, the department's rehabilitation staff was involved in reviewing and advising on the implementation and development of rehabilitation services in accord- ance with the objectives of the White Paper on Rehabilitation.

In the voluntary sector, services for the medium-grade mentally retarded as well as severe-grade mentally retarded adults were further promoted. The opening of the Cliff Road Caritas Centre in Kowloon provided 40 more places for vocational training and 60 more places for sheltered work for the medium-grade mentally retarded. The Hong Kong Society of Homes for the Handicapped's Chai Wan Centre provides residential care for 32 severe-grade mentally retarded young adults in addition to day care for 18 adults. The Kowloon Union Church has established a day centre for 50 borderline medium-severe grade mentally retarded young adults. Training places for the physi- cally disabled also increased with the expansion of the Spastics Association of Hong Kong's Sau Mau Ping Training Centre from a capacity of 35 to 50 and the Hong Kong Christian Service's Princess Alexandra children's centre from a capacity of 36 to 44. -

Sports and recreational services for the disabled were substantially increased during the year with the establishment of both the Pok Fu Lam Centre and the East Kowloon Centre of the Hong Kong Physically Handicapped and Able-Bodied Association, the Lam Tin Activities Centre of the Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth and the Oi Man Estate Recreation Centre of the Hong Kong Society for the Deaf.

Probation and Corrections

Probation and corrections work is concerned with treating and rehabilitating offenders and the Probation and Corrections Division provides a probation service, residential

། ། training and after-care services.

The probation service, which is governed by the Probation of Offenders Ordinance and Regulations, has 13 probation offices serving the Magistrates' Courts and the District and Supreme Courts. Probation officers undertake statutory supervision of probationers, assist them in job or school placements, encourage their participation in social and recreational activities, and provide them with family and group counsel- ling. Another aspect of probation officers' work is to conduct enquiries into the back- ground of offenders for the purpose of determining and reviewing sentences or in connection with petitions.

To promote greater community involvement in rehabilitating probationers, a volunteer scheme was launched in October, 1976. Under the scheme, selected volunteers from all walks of life provide probationers with moral support and practical assistance, such as private tuition and guidance in the proper use of leisure.