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SOCIAL WELFARE

Eight surveys were carried out during the year. In conjunction with the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, the section is responsible for the operation of the Social Welfare Manpower Planning System. This system collates information on individual social work personnel and on the demand for and supply of trained social workers in order to facilitate overall manpower planning in the welfare sector. The Research and Statistics Section also runs six other data systems, these being the Integrated Law and Order Statistical System on offenders under the charge of the department, the Street Sleepers Registry, the Planned Welfare Projects Registry, and three central referral systems for placement in institutions for the elderly, the disabled adults and disabled pre-schoolers. In addition, the section is a source of statistical support in connection with the preparation of the White Paper.

Subvention and Evaluation

Financial assistance is given to enable 159 non-profit-making welfare agencies to provide social welfare services in accordance with government policies. Financial assistance for capital and special expenditure is usually provided through the Lotteries Fund.

The Evaluation Unit 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 the agencies which are in turn required to submit service statistics to the department at specified intervals. Where appropriate, findings are submitted to the - Subventions and Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee which advises on the allocation of subventions and Lotteries Fund grants to agencies providing social welfare and rehabilita- tion services. During the year the department conducted eight in-depth evaluations of experimental projects and services operated by voluntary agencies.

Community Building

Community building efforts involve the provision of purpose-built facilities for group and community activities, the formation of citizens' organisations and the encouragement of community participation in the administration of public affairs, solving community problems, promoting social stability and improving the quality of life in general.

The community building programme, co-ordinated by the Community Building Policy Committee, serves to foster among the people of Hong Kong a sense of belonging, mutual care and civic responsibility as society undergoes rapid socio-economic changes.

A number of government departments and voluntary organisations contribute towards the programme, the City and New Territories Administration and the Social Welfare Department being the two departments principally responsible for implementing this programme. The City and New Territories Administration, through its network of district offices, is primarily concerned with promoting mutual care and community spirit through various local organisations, such as area committees, mutual aid committees, rural committees, kaifong welfare associations, women's organisations, and local arts and sports associations. Community centres, managed by the City and New Territories Administration, are provided throughout the territory to serve as a base for community building work.

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.