ENG-1986 — Page 178

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SOCIAL WELFARE

A broad range of family life education programmes is co-ordinated by the Social Welfare Department. The programmes aim at improving the quality of family life through the promotion of interpersonal relationships and social consciousness, which may help prevent family crises and consequent social problems. The 1986 theme of the annual publicity campaign was 'Honour Your Parents'. It aimed at urging the younger generation to recognise and appreciate their parents' efforts in bringing them up. In addition to the major publicity campaign, family life education programmes are organised by social workers at the district level, with 56 family life education workers from 14 subvented welfare agencies providing the service.

Care of the Elderly

'Care in the community and by the community' remains the guiding principle for the planning of services for the elderly. Subvented-welfare agencies are the main provider of a wide range of community support services for the elderly which aim at encouraging families to look after their elderly members and enabling old people to live independently and in dignity. These services include home help, canteen service, community education, day care and social and recreational activities. At the end of 1986, there were three outdoor recreational buses, 40 home help teams, 84 social centres, 10 multi-service centres and four day care centres for the elderly. Priority allocation of public housing is available for elderly people and families with elderly relations.

Residential facilities are also provided for those who, for health or other reasons, can no longer live alone or with their families. At the end of the year, there were 6 933 places in homes/hostels (including 1 581 non-subvented places) and 1470 places in care and attention homes. Future provision of residential places will be significantly boosted by the decision of the Housing Authority to equip and operate sheltered housing schemes for the able-bodied and to make premises available for old people's homes and care and attention homes in new public housing estates. The government also provides sheltered housing for 595 elderly people in good health and capable of living independently through the purchase of 103 flats in two separate private housing developments.

Social Work Among Young People

A wide range of services has been designed for young people under the age of 25. The overall objective is to assist and encourage young people to become mature and responsible members of society by fostering the development of their personality, character, sense of civic responsibility, social aptitudes and ability to use their leisure time beneficially.

To achieve these goals, the Social Welfare Department organised a wide variety of programmes, with special emphasis on the development of the potential of the youth. Community centres not only provide residents with a venue for community functions, but also house various welfare services, such as day-care for pre-school children, and services for the elderly and the handicapped. Following the transfer of the management of community centre facilities to the City and New Territories Administration, the department was able to devote more of its resources to promoting and strengthening group work activities. Children's and youth centres operated mainly by voluntary agencies under the guidance of social work staff serve as focal points for a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities for the development of character, leadership potential and skills at socialising. In 1986, two children's centres, and five combined children's and youth centres were opened. At the end of the year, there were 149 children's centres and 162 youth centres in operation - with 100 being combined children's and youth centres.