8
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1981
IF THE BILL WAS PASSED, TO SHE ALSO ASKED THE GOVERNMENT KEEP VERY CAREFUL STATISTICS OF THE NUMBER OF LEGAL ABORTIONS PERFORMED ON GIRLS OF UNDER 16, OF THE NUMBER OF PROSECUTIONS AND CONVICTIONS OF THE MEN INVOLVED AND OF THE NUMBER OF LIVE BIRTHS TO GIRLS WHO CONCEIVED UNDER THE AGE OF 16.
THESE STATISTICS WILL BE IMPORTANT IN A FEW YEARS TIME WHEN THIS LAW, IF PASSED, IS REVIEWED.
MISS BENNETT ALSO SAID THE PROVISION WHICH ALLOWS A VICTIM THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF AN OFFENCE TO REPORT TO THE POLICE +SEEMS TO ME TO MAKE A MOCKERY OF OUR SUPPORT TO THE POLICE IN THE EXECUTION OF THE IR DUTY.+
+THERE ARE NOW TO BE PROVISIONS TO ENSURE THAT NO. ABORTION SHOULD NORMALLY TAKE PLACE OF A PREGNANCY WHICH IS OF MORE THAN 24 WEEKS DURATION, SO THAT THIS MENTION OF THREE MONTHS SEEMS TO ME TO SERVE NO USEFUL PURPOSE, + SHE SAID.
FOUR UNOFFICIALS SUPPORT BILL
******
FOUR UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON (AMENDMENT) BILL DURING ITS RESUMED DEBATE
IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI SAID IT WOULD BE TOTALLY WRONG TO ASSUME THAT IN EVERY CASE WHERE THE WOMAN IS ELIGIBLE FOR AN ABORTION UNDER THE LAW, AN ABORTION IS ACTUALLY PERFORMED.
HE NOTED THAT THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES WOULD MOVE A COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENT TO ALLOW WOMEN UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE AND VICTIMS OF RAPE, INCEST AND SEXUAL INTERCOURSE PROCURED BY THREATS, DRUGS OR FALSE PRETENCES AN ABORTION, ONLY WHEN TWO DOCTORS ARE OF THE OPINION THAT THE CONTINUATION OF THE PREGNANCY INVOLVES GREATER PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH RISK TO THE MOTHER THAN IF THE PREGNANCY WERE TERMINATED.
+1 WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THAT THE AGE OF THE WOMAN AND WHETHER OR NOT SHE IS A VICTIM OF CRIMINAL SEXUAL INTERCOURSE IS ONLY A CRITERION FOR ABORTION IN THOSE BORDER-LINE CASES WHERE THE TWO DOCTORS ARE IN DOUBT AS TO WHETHER AN ABORTION IS WARRANTED ON MEDICAL GROUNDS, HE SAID.
+ IN OTHER WORDS, THERE IS NO QUESTION OF ABORTION ON DEMAND FOR THESE WOMEN.
+ IN THE EVENT THAT TWO DOCTORS DO DECIDE THAT AN ABORTION IS NECESSARY, IT IS STILL UP TO THE MOTHER TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT SHE WISHES TO HAVE AN ABORTION.+
TURNING TO VICTIMS OF RAPE AND INCEST AND OTHER SEXUAL INTERCOURSE OFFENCES, DR HO FELT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY WRONG TO FORCE THESE VICTIMS INTO SUFFERING THE ADDITIONAL TRAUMA CF GOING THROUGH NINE MONTHS PREGNANCY AND GIVING BIRTH TO AN UNWANTED CHILD.
+I CONSIDER