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SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 1980
COMMUNITY PROGRESS CAN EXERT PRESSURE ON THE FAMILY
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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S REGIONAL OFFICER (HONG KONG), MR KWOK KA-CHI, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT A PROGRESSING SOCIETY COULD BRING ABOUT SOCIAL PROBLEMS MANY OF WHICH MIGHT HAVE DIRECT BEARING ON THE FAMILY.
MR KWOK SAID THE MAJOR FACTORS GIVING RISE TO FAMILY PROBLEMS INCLUDED INCREASES IN POPULATION. CHANGES IN FAMILY SETUP, MORE WOMEN GOING INTO EMPLOYMENT AND THE IMPACT OF WESTERN CULTURES.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG (WEST) DURING WHICH HE RECEIVED A $10 000 DONATION FROM THE CLUB TO SPONSOR A FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION CARNIVAL BEING ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
MR KWOK SAID POPULATION GROWTH INEVITABLY MADE LIFE MORE COMPETITIVE, RESULTING IN SOME WORKING PARENTS NOT GIVING THE IR CHILDREN ADEQUATE CARE AND GUIDANCE.
HE SAID THE TRADITIONAL BIG FAMILY SETUP HAD GRADUALLY GIVEN WAY TO ONE OF SMALL NUCLEUS FAMILY WHICH MIGHT SOMETIMES FIND IT LESS EASY TO COPE WITH SOCIAL STRAINS.
IN THE LIGHT OF MODERNISATION AND BETTER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, HE SAID, MORE WOMEN ARE GOING INTO EMPLOYMENT AND SOME OF THEM MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SPARE ENOUGH TIME FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF WESTERN CULTURES, YOUNG PEOPLE TEND TO GO FOR A MORE INDEPENDENT WAY OF LIFE, AND UNLESS THERE IS ADEQUATE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, IT COULD EASILY LEAD TO GAPS BETWEEN GENERATIONS, HE SAID.
MR KWOK SAID FAMILY PROBLEMS COULD GENERALLY BE SOLVED BY REMEDIAL SOCIAL WORK, SUCH AS ASSISTANCE FOR UNMARRIED MOTHERS, AND BY PREVENTIVE SOCIAL WORK, AN EXAMPLE OF WHICH WAS FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION.
AT THE END OF LAST MONTH, HE SAID, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES WERE HANDLING 1 067 CASES INVOLVING MARITAL DISCORD, 1 581 CASES OF FAMILY CONFLICTS, 1 990 CASES OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH EMOTIONAL OR BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS, 1 297 CASES OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH REQUIRING CARE AND PROTECTION, AND 3 095 CASES INVOLVING OTHER CHILD AND YOUTH PROBLEMS.
HE EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTIVE SOCIAL WORK IN WHICH THE DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS OVER THE PAST YEARS INCLUDED THE
INTRODUCTION OF THE COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICER SCHEME AND CHILD CARE LEGISLATION, AS WELL AS INCREASED SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AND OUTREACH SOCIAL WORK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
IN ADDITION, HE SAID, SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION WHICH AIMS AT STRENGTHENING FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND FORESTALLING FAMILY BREAKDOWN.
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