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* MARCH 17, 1985
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE MAJORITY OF CASES BECAME KNOWN TO THE FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES AS A RESULT OF DIRECT APPROACH BY PEOPLE.
+OTHER CASES ARE REFERRED TO US BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS LIKE THE POLICE, THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, THE HOUSING, MEDICAL AND HEALTH AND LEGAL AID DEPARTMENTS, + HE SAID.
+REFERRALS ARE ALSO RECEIVED FROM VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND THE
COURTS.+
+SOME CASES BECOME KNOWN TO US THROUGH PUBLICITY IN THE MASS MEDIA,+ HE SAID.
+ IN SUCH CASES, WE WILL REACH OUT TO THESE PEOPLE TO OFFER OUR HELP.+
SINCE OCTOBER 1980, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN OPERATING A HOTLINE (3-432255) TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC ON SOCIAL WELFARE MATTERS.
+THE HOTLINE IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH WE GET TO KNOW OF CASES REQUIRING OUR ASSISTANCE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
IT IS MANNED BY TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS FROM 9 AM TO 10 PM ON WEEKDAYS AND SATURDAYS, AND FROM 1 PM TO 10 PM ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. OUTSIDE THESE HOURS, MESSAGES ARE RECORDED FOR FOLLOW-UP ACTION. THE HOTLINE HANDLES ABOUT 20 000 CALLS EACH YEAR.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE SEEKING HELP FROM FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES TO GIVE ACCURATE INFORMATION ON THEIR PERSONAL AND FAMILY SITUATION SO THAT THE MOST APPROPRIATE SERVICES COULD BE RENDERED.
HE GAVE AN ASSURANCE THAT ALL INFORMATION WOULD BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.
TO AROUSE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY LIFE AND TO PROMOTE HARMONIOUS RELATIONSHIPS, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR, HAS BEEN MOUNTING ANNUAL PROMOTIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS SINCE 1978.
+ONE OF THE AIMS OF THESE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS IS TO PREVENT FAMILY PROBLEMS WHICH MAY LEAD TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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