WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1977
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THE HON. MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH ALSO POINTED OUT THAT SOME YOUNG GIRLS MISSING FROM HOME WERE KNOWN TO BE DETAINED AGAINST THEIR WILL BY OPERATORS OF ILLEGAL BROTHELS.
SHE STRESSED THE NEED FOR PROTECTING MISSING GIRLS AS WELL AS GIRLS UNDER 16 AND THE DEFECTIVES FROM BEING LED OR FORCED INTO PROSTITUTION BY HEAVIER PENALTIES.
SHE REITERATED HER PLEA FOR EARLY INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO OBVIATE THE NEED FOR RAPE VICTIMS TO DISCLOSE THE IR NAMES AND PAST SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR SO AS TO ENCOURAGE MORE REPORTS AND THUS DETER SUCH CRIMES. SHE ALSO ASKED THAT WOMEN POLICE BE MADE AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES TO DEAL WITH SUCH REPORTS, AT LEAST AT FIRST.
SHE SUGGESTED A NEW PROCEDURE UNDER WHICH A TRAINED SOCIAL WORKER FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE PRESENT WHEN THE POLICE QUESTION AND SCREEN YOUNG GIRLS ARRESTED DURING RAIDS ON BARS, MUSIC PARLOURS AND OTHER SUCH ESTABLISHMENTS.
AT PRESENT, SHE POINTED OUT, THE POLICE IN PRACTICE ONLY REFER A GIRL TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IF THEY CONSIDER SHE NEEDS CARE AND ATTENTION OR SHE OR A MEMBER OF HER FAMILY REQUESTS THAT THIS BE DONE.
LAST YEAR, 4,300 YOUNG GIRLS WERE ARRESTED DURING POLICE RAIDS, BUT ONLY A MERE 472 OF THEM WERE REFERRED.
+ IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT THESE GIRLS WERE AT RISK AND THUS NEEDED SPECIAL COUNSELLING OR CARE AND ATTENTION.+ THE IR TYPE IS DIFFICULT TO CONTACT IN THE MORE TRADITIONAL WAYS AND SOCIAL WORKERS ARE MAKING AN EFFORT IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS TO IDENTIFY THOSE WITH PROBLEMS AND HELP THEM IN THEIR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT.
AS THE EXTENSION OF THIS TYPE OF OUTREACH PROGRAMME HAS BEEN PROPOSED IN THE GREEN PAPER ON DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONAL SOCIAL WORK AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, +IT SEEMS A VERY SHORT-SIGHTED AND EXTRAVAGANT POLICY THAT, AFTER POLICE RAIDS LAST YEAR, ONLY ABOUT 10 PER CENT OF THESE GIRLS WERE REFERRED TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WHICH COULD EITHER WORK WITH THEM OR REFER SOME OF THEM TO THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES CONCERNED, + SHE SAID.
REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT HOPED SOCIAL WORKERS WOULD ALSO COME INTO ACTION TO HELP THOSE GIRLS AND WOMEN DISPLACED FROM VICE ESTABLISHMENTS ONCE THE AMENDING LEGISLATION CAME INTO FORCE.
SHE ALSO URGED. THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE TO PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR HIS CASE WORKERS TO REHABILITATE THEM.
+ IF A FORM IV SCHOOL GIRL GIVES UP STUDYING TO EARN $3,000 PER MONTH FROM HER MEN FRIENDS", A POSITIVE EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO TRAIN THESE GIRLS AND WOMEN TO EARN THEIR LIVING IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
/+UNLESS