Page 51 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

III. DIIVISION OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE
(Hong Kong Christian Service)

A) Service to the Elderly People

The Division continues to administer hostels for the elderly

on behalf of the Committee for the Elderly which is represented
by eight church groups and voluntary agencies and three govern­
ment departments. The official opening of the second hostel -

,
4

7
1
9
Kwai Fong Hostel, was held on May 9, the same day when
the first hostel - Wah Hong Hostel opened in 1970. Both hostels
are filled. Their combined maximum capacity is 269 elderly
people. The Division is keeping a list of over ninety appli-
cations who are waiting for hostel accommodations. The
Committee for the Elderly is in the process of discussions

with the Hong Kong Housing Society and the Government's
Housing Department for the possibility of opening a third hostel.

As of October, 1974 the hostels received students from the
Social Welfare Department's Institute for Social Work Training

for field work placement. During the school year they are
working two days a week. In the summer we will be receiving
six students from the Institute. Three students will be

placed at each Hostel. They will be working full-time.

In order to share their gratefulness of what they have received,

a group of women residents of Kwai Fong Hostel used donated
materials to make various kinds of stuffed animal dolls to give
them away to underprivileged children. At Christmas 1974

twelve elderly women carried 60 stuffed dolls to the Evangel's
Home for the children. They were happy that they were able to
do something for the children. The double happiness was this:

The mini-bus driver taking these elderly women to the Home,
on learning the reason for the trip, refused to receive the

bus fare. This was an expression of his support and participation.