HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL
28 June 1989 香港立法局——————————一九八九年六月二十八日
41
Not only is the physical growth of our children not maximized for the reasons I quoted above but it is positively retarded by the need to carry loads of school books on their backs backwards and forwards. The proof of such poor physical development of our children compared to counterparts in other parts of the world is contained in the Physical Fitness of Children in Hong Kong published by the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
A few hundred handicapped school-age children are still not receiving special education in a school setting. And although sex education is now taught even in schools for the mentally handicapped, we are seeing sexual abuse of severely mentally handicapped children to the point of pregnancy and mildly mentally handicapped children are lured into selling sex for money.
Last but not least, the full implementation of the concept of family courts to include preceding conciliation meeting in divorce matters involving children for the children's benefit is still being keenly awaited.
Having given an introduction on these general topics which also affect the physical, psychological, mental and emotional health of children, I will now concentrate on health matters.
The recommendations for improvement in child health and services in Hong Kong which I made 10 years ago basically have not changed and they are as follows:
To improve child health in Hong Kong, children must be offered a good environment to grow and develop; the public spirit of "motherhood" must be fostered; and parents must be educated to make use of the available facilities to help a child grow up healthily. Concurrently, child health services must be improved by working on their deficiencies.
The environment should be improved, particularly as regards reducing childhood accidents, atmospheric pollution and over-crowding, as all three of these can lead to childhood disease and morbidity. These are obviously long- term objectives, but it is doubtful if their importance to Hong Kong has been sufficiently recognized.
As regards motherhood, the public should be corrected in their lack of concern for the pregnant and nursing mother. This is shown by the absence of paid maternity leave at that time, the lack of consideration for mothers who breastfeed their babies, no medical benefits for wives and children and lack of