Sir
UMELCO
DRAFT SPEECH BY HON HUI YIN FAT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 23.7.86
Domestic Violence Bill 1986
:
The call for redress to battered wives, which has
been mounting in the past few years, has finally been answered
in the Domestic Violence Bill. In addressing the problem of
domestic violence, the new legislation places family and human
relationship higher up the priority list of Hong Kong's many
and varied social problems awaiting much needed attention and
provisions. This new ordinance in essence represents a turning
point that may hopefully lead to attitude and behavioural changes among members of the public.
While we social workers fully agree with the bill
that provides molested spouse with speedy relief through an
injunction order issued by District or High Courts, we
emphasize the importance of counselling service for parties undergoing a traumatic experience. Casework counselling not only heals the wound during the cooling off period, but is also
conducive to reaching a happy and satisfactory solution for all
concerned. In view of the financial and administrative
difficulties envisaged in providing a mandatory service,
follow-up counselling work, which many voluntary agencies are
ready to offer, should be clearly made known to those who may
opt to seek this service voluntarily.
Perhaps one minor shortfall of the bill is the lack
of provision for elderly persons in domestic violence cases.
While it is understood that coverage would be given to abused
elderly people in a separate legislation being drafted, we urge
that the law drafting procedures be speeded up in view of the
growing number of elderly abuse cases.
+
UMELCO