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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1979
+CHILD ABUSE IS, IN FACT, SYMPTOMATIC OF A MULTITUDE OF FAMILY PROBLEMS, SUCH AS MARITAL DISCORD,
SUCH AS MARITAL DISCORD, PROLONGED ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, ENVIRONMENTAL FRUSTRATION, UNWANTED PREGNANCY, DRUG ADDICTION, OR UNSTABLE PERSONALITY.
+AN EFFECTIVE REMEDY MUST INCLUDE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILY AS A WHOLE RATHER THAN THOSE OF THE VICTIMISED CHILD ALONE,+ DR. HO SAID.
AS FOR CHILDREN DEPRIVED OF THEIR FAMILIES, EITHER TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY, DR. HO SAID THE TRADITIONAL REMEDY OF PLACING THEM IN AN ORPHANAGE OR CHILDREN'S CENTRE WAS NOT CONDUCIVE TO THE IR WHOLESOME DEVELOPMENT.
SUBSTITUTE HOMES, SUCH AS ADOPTIVE HOMES AND FOSTER HOMES WERE MORE APPROPRIATE BUT AT PRESENT THERE WERE ONLY TWO SUBVENTED VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS RENDERING SUCH SERVICES,
HE HOPED THE PROGRAMME COULD BE EXPANDED AS A MATTER OF URGENCY WITH GREATER INVOLVEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT.
THE HON. LEUNG TAT-SHING SPOKE OF THE NEED TO PROVIDE MORE CHILD CARE CENTRES AND CONNECTED SERVICES TO THE LOWER-INCOME GROUP, PARTICULARLY IN AND AROUND THE NEW INDUSTRIAL TOWNS.
HE SAID MANY YOUNG COUPLES WERE OBLIGED TO WORK AND THERE WAS A NEED TO PROVIDE A SPECIALISED SERVICE TO LOOK AFTER THEIR CHILDREN OF PRE-SCHOOL AGE WHILE THEY WERE AT WORK.
MANY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WERE PREPARED TO CO-OPERATE BY ESTABLISHING CHILD CARE CENTRES BUT WERE OFTEN DETERRED BY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CHILD CARE CENTRES REGULATIONS WHICH WERE OFTEN MUCH TOO RIGID AND DIFFICULT TO COMPLY WITH WITHOUT EXTRANEOUS COST AND TIME-CONSUMING EFFORTS.
IN PARTICULAR, HE SAID, THE TIME IT TOOK TO COMPLY WITH FIRE SERVICE REQUIREMENTS WAS A MATTER OF GREAT CONCERN, AND ANY DELAY IN OBTAINING THE NECESSARY CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION WAS USUALLY CAUSED BY THESE REQUIREMENTS.
HE WAS SURE THAT IF THE REGULATIONS WERE MADE MORE FLEXIBLE AND LESS TIME-CONSUMING TO COMPLY WITH, MORE VOLUNTARY BODIES WILL BE GLAD TO FURTHER THE GOVERNMENT'S AIM TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE FOR CHILDREN.
THE GROWTH IN ALL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN RECENT YEARS HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. E.P. HO SAID IN REPLY TO THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.
HE SAID THREE OF THEM ---MISS BENNETT, DR. HO AND MR. LEUNG HAD DRAWN ATTENTION TO SOME OF THE AREAS IN WHICH PROVISIONS FELL SHORT OF THE IDEAL.
HONG KONG NEED NOT BE ASHAMED OF WHAT HAD BEEN ACHIEVED SO FAR IN THE WAY IN WHICH IT IMPROVED THE LOT OF THE CHILDREN, MR. HO SAID.
+ I THINK.....