ENG-1990 — Page 219

SOCIAL WELFARE

for boys aged 14 to under 16 on admission, while the O Pui Shan Boys' Home is a similar institution for those aged under 14 on admission. Since April 1989, these two boys' homes have undertaken aftercare services to enhance the co-ordination and continuity of their treatment programmes. The Kwun Tong Hostel is a probation hostel for young men aged between 16 and 21.

While a new girls' home is being built in Tuen Mun, plans are in hand to improve residential and training facilities, including the conversion of a youth centre and hostel into a probation home for girls, building a new workshop block at O Pui Shan Boys' Home and the relocation of the Castle Peak Boys' Home and Begonia Road Boys' Home to Sha Tin and Ngau Chi Wan respectively. Following a review of the educational programmes in these institutions, the department has recruited qualified teachers to run academic teaching classes. New teaching materials have been designed to suit the needs and interests of the trainees. These new arrangements have brought about improvements although there have been problems in the recruitment and retention of teachers.

In addition to the work carried out by the Social Welfare Department, several subvented welfare agencies also provide services to help young offenders and young people with behavioural problems to reintegrate into the community.

Family Welfare

The Social Welfare Department and a number of subvented welfare agencies provide a variety of family and child care services with the overall objective of preserving and strengthening the family as a unit through helping individuals and families to solve their problems or to avoid them altogether.

The department operates å network of 31 family services centres and the subvented welfare sector operates 23 such centres. The major services provided in family services centres include: family casework and counselling; care and protection of children and young people aged under 21, and referrals for schooling, housing, employment and financial assistance.

The Wai On Home, run by the department and Harmony House, run by the non- governmental sector together provide short-term accommodation with 80 places for women and children who may be victims of domestic violence and for young girls at risk.

The department continues to tackle the problem of street sleeping. A temporary shelter and a day relief centre have been allocated social welfare subvention to provide temporary accommodation and relief services for street sleepers. In response to the recommendations of an inter-departmental co-ordinating committee on street sleepers set up under the auspices of the Health and Welfare Branch, a grant of $2.3 million from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities (Limited) will be used to set up a second urban hostel to provide more permanent accommodation for the homeless, including street sleepers.

The department provides a wide range of child welfare services. The Child Protection Services Unit caters for abused children. The Adoption Unit is responsible for local and overseas adoption of orphans, abandoned babies and children freed for adoption. The Central Foster Care Unit promotes foster care services in Hong Kong. Furthermore, the Child Custody Service Unit carries out statutory duties in respect of supervision or care arising from custody and guardianship matters handled in Family Courts or the High Court. The Chuk Yuen Children's Reception Centre and the Sha Kok Children's Home provide for the temporary care of children aged up to eight.

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