ENG-1991 — Page 203

SOCIAL WELFARE

To cope with increasing demand arising from the growth of the elderly population, the planning standard for care-and-attention places has been revised from a ratio of 8 to 11 places per 1000 elderly persons. Similarly, the planning ratio of social centres for the elderly is revised to one centre for every 3 000 elderly persons, and of multi-service centres and day care centres to one centre per administrative district, with a proviso of establishing additional centres on the ratio of one centre for around 25 000 elderly persons.

To expedite provision of care-and-attention places for the elderly, efforts have been made to establish such units in homes for the aged in public housing estates, in addition to erecting purpose-built care-and-attention homes. This is in line with the concept of providing a spectrum of services in the same home to minimise the need to transfer elderly persons already in care to other homes when their health condition deteriorates.

In the area of services for young offenders, the syllabi of the pre-vocational classes of the department's correctional institutions have been improved and a growing number of discharged trainees go on to vocational courses managed by the Vocational Training Council, Construction Industry Training Authority and Clothing Industry Training Authority. Subsequent to employing qualified teachers to run academic classes in the institutions, 19 residents joined the Secondary School Places Allocation System and were allocated places in 1991.

Proposals for amendments to the Protection of Women and Juveniles Ordinance were concluded. These proposals would effect improvements by removing obsolete provisions and making significant changes in a number of areas for better protection of the child's well-being. Arising from widespread public concern over tragedies involving young children left unattended at home, a new publicity campaign on this subject was launched in April. Legislation to prohibit parents from leaving children unattended at home was reviewed and a three-month public consultation exercise on the issue was carried out from October to December.

As a further improvement to the Public Assistance Scheme within the social security system, a Child Supplement was introduced in November payable to children of public assistance households to meet their special needs for healthy development.

During the year, 13 new day nurseries, one new foster care unit, three new small group homes for children, two hostels for the elderly, one home for the aged, three care- and-attention homes for the elderly, seven homes-cum-care-and-attention units, three work units, and 11 children and youth centres were established.

Community Chest

The Community Chest, which organises and co-ordinates fund-raising activities for its member agencies, raised $113 million in 1990-91, compared with $88.2 million in 1989–90. More details about the Community Chest are given at Appendix 32B.

Social Security

Social security is a major social welfare programme aimed at meeting the needs of those vulnerable groups in the community requiring financial assistance. The Public Assistance and Special Needs Allowance Schemes are the key elements in the entirely non-contributory

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