FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1985
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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN DISCLOSED THAT IN ADDITION TO THE AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH THE MIB TODAY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAD APPROVED A SEPARATE SCHEME TO USE SURPLUS FUNDS IN THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME FUND TO MAKE EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS TO THIRD PARTIES IN RESPECT OF DEATH OR BODILY INJURY ARISING FROM TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING MOTOR VEHICLES INSURED WITH FIVE INSOLVENT INSURANCE COMPANIES NOW IN LIQUIDATION.
DETAILS OF THIS SCHEME WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH.
REGISTRY ON CHILD ABUSE TO BE SET UP
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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES INTEND TO SET UP A CENTRAL REGISTRY OF CHILD ABUSE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, REGIONAL OFFICER (EAST KOWLOON) OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, MR KWOK KA-CHI, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING ON CHILD ABUSE AT A LUNCH MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG EAST, MR KWOK SAID THE CENTRAL REGISTRY WOULD BE ATTACHED TO THE DEPARTMENT'S CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES UNIT.
+THE REGISTRY WILL BE FOR THE REFERENCE OF ALL CONCERNED ORGANISATIONS, AND WILL HELP TO AROUSE AWARENESS OF CHILD ABUSE AS WELL AS STEP UP EFFICIENCY IN HANDLING SUCH CASES,+ HE SAID. THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES UNIT WAS SET UP IN JUNE 1983 TO HANDLE CHILD ABUSE CASES, AND TO TAKE OVER THE MORE DIFFICULT CASES FROM THE 22 FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT LOCATED THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.
AS OF SEPTEMBER 1985, THE UNIT HANDLED 173 CHILD ABUSE CASES INVOLVING 327 CHILDREN, REPRESENTING HALF OF THE TOTAL CASES IN HONG KONG.
STATISTICS SHOWED THAT IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1985, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TOGETHER WITH VOLUNTARY AGENCIES HANDLED 349 CHILD ABUSE CASES INVOLVING 461 CHILDREN. THE CORRESPONDING FIGURES FOR THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR WERE 338 CASES INVOLVING 455 CHILDREN.
IN 50 PER CENT OF THE CASES, THE ABUSER WAS THE MOTHER, WHILE 30 PER CENT OF THE CASES INVOLVED THE FATHER, MR KWOK SAID. OF THE CHILDREN INVOLVED, 90 PER CENT WERE BETWEEN THE AGES OF TWO AND 14, HE SAID.
/THE SOURCES