ENG-1991 — Page 218

SOCIAL WELFARE

Subventions and Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee which advises on the allocation of subventions and Lotteries Fund grants to agencies providing social welfare and rehabilitation services. During the year, the department conducted nine in-depth evaluations of experimental projects and services operated by non-governmental organisations.

Community Building

A number of government departments and voluntary organisations contribute towards the community building programme.

This 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.

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 City and New Territories Administration and the Social Welfare Department are the two departments principally responsible for implementing the programme. The City and New Territories Administration, through its network of district offices, 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. Community centres, run by the City and New Territories Administration and non-governmental organisations, are provided 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.

Commission on Youth

The Commission on Youth was established in February 1990, with members appointed by the Governor. The main objectives were to advise the Governor on matters pertaining to youth, to initiate research, to promote co-operation and co-ordination in the provision of youth services and to serve as a focal liaison point with other international youth organisations for exchange programmes.

The first task was to study in depth the impact of Hong Kong's future on the development of young people and to recommend to government how Hong Kong's youth should be better equipped to adapt to political, social and economic changes in the years ahead. To facilitate this study, the commission conducted an opinion survey in January 1991 on the attitudes and expectations of youth towards their future and a seminar was organised in September to obtain views of interested parties on the findings of the survey. Appreciating the significant influence of the mass media on the thinking and behaviour of today's youth, the commission initiated another study to assess the role of the mass media in influencing youth and in promoting youth development.

As required by the government, the commission is developing a Charter for Youth containing important objectives and principles covering the protection, nurture and

177