ENG-1986 — Page 181

SOCIAL WELFARE

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The Evaluation Section of the department is responsible for monitoring and assessing services provided by the subvented welfare agencies. For this purpose, departmental staff make regular visits to these agencies and they, in turn are required to submit service statistics to the department regularly. Where appropriate, findings are submitted to the Subventions and Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee which advises on allocation of subventions. During the year, the department conducted eight in-depth evaluations of the service programmes of individual subvented agencies.

Community Building

'Community building' serves to foster among the people of Hong Kong a sense of belonging, mutual care and civic responsibility as the society undergoes rapid socio- economic changes. Community building efforts involve the provision of purpose-built facilities for group and community activities, formation of citizens' organisations and encouragement of community participation in the administration of public affairs, in solving community problems, in promoting social stability and in improving the quality of life.

A number of government departments and voluntary organisations contribute towards the community building programme which is monitored and co-ordinated by the Com- munity Building Policy Committee. The City and New Territories Administration and the Social Welfare Department are the two departments principally responsible for this programme. The former implements the specific objectives of community building through a network of district offices, and is primarily concerned with promoting mutual care and community spirit through local organisations such as area committees, mutual aid committees, rural committees, kaifong welfare associations, women's organisations and local arts and sports associations.

The Social Welfare Department is responsible for various aspects of group and community work aimed at promoting the development of individuals and groups and at fostering a sense of community responsibility. Community centres, run by either the City and New Territories Administration or voluntary agencies, are provided throughout the territory to serve as bases for community building work.

Central Committee on Youth

Having regard to the rapid expansion of youth activities in recent years and following the celebration of the 1985 International Youth Year, a Central Committee on Youth was set up by the government in May 1986. The objective of the committee is, among other things, to identify the needs and aspirations of young people in Hong Kong, to liaise with and assist organisations concerned to promote youth development and to enhance youth participation in community affairs, and to examine the need for a comprehensive youth policy.

Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education

The importance of promoting civic education in Hong Kong, particularly in the light of the development of the system of government was noted in the White Paper, 'The Further Development of Representative Government in Hong Kong' published in 1984. Sub- sequently, an inter-departmental committee was set up within the government to examine what measures should be taken to promote civic education outside of the educational system, while the Education Department has been responsible for civic education within schools.

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