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SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1988
SAFEGUARDING MENTALLY HANDICAPPED FROM ABUSE
TODAY OF
THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, (SATURDAY) CALLED FOR GREATER ATTENTION TO BE GIVEN TO THE PROBLEM EXPLOITATION OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE SEMINAR ON SEXUAL ABUSE OF THE HANDICAPPED ORGANISED BY THE ZONTA CLUB OF HONG KONG.
MENTALLY
MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT WHILE PLANS WERE UNDERWAY TO STEP UP REHABILITATION PROGRAMME IT WAS IMPORTANT NOT TO LOSE SIGHT OF BEYOND THE ACTUAL PROVISION OF SERVICES.
THE
ISSUES
THESE ISSUES NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED IF THE PROCESS WAS TO BE EFFECTIVE.
REHABILITATION
"THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED ARE A GROUP OF DISABLED PEOPLE ARE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXPLOITATION AND VULNERABLE ΤΟ VARIETY OF DANGERS BECAUSE OF THEIR MENTAL CONDITION,
WHO A
HE SAID.
SHOULD BE
"IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE IDENTIFIED AND SUITABLE PROTECTIVE MEASURES DISCUSSED AND EXPLORED."
THE
AN
MR CHAMBERS POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS PROBLEM BECAUSE SEXUAL ABUSE WAS A DIRECT VIOLATION OF INDIVIDUAL'S PERSONAL RIGHTS, CAUSED DAMAGE TO TIK VICTIM'S DIGNITY, AND WAS INJURIOUS TO HIS OR HER PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING.
"IT IS ALSO A DIFFICULT AND ELUSIVE SUBJECT, HE SAID.
"MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE STRONG AND EFFECTIVE MEASURES AGAINST SEXUAL ABUSE OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, INFORMATION AND RELIABLE STATISTICS ARE OFTEN LACKING, SO THAT THE REAL SIZE OF THE PROBLEM, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING то THE OCCURRENCE OF SUCH ABUSE, ARE ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH AND ANALYSE.
"FOR THE SAME REASONS, FORMAL PREVENTIVE MEASURES OFTEN PROVE TO BE DIFFICULT TO DEVISE."
MR CHAMBERS CONGRATULATED THE INITIATIVE IN ORGANISING THE SEMINAR, KONG TO DEAL WITH THE SUBJECT OF HANDICAPPED.
ZONTA CLUB OF HONG KONG FOR ITS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN HONG SEXUAL ABUSE OF THE MENTALLY
IN
THE OBJECT OF THE SEMINAR IS TO ALERT THOSE INVOLVED
THE CARE AND PROTECTION OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, INCLUDING THEIR PARENTS AND FAMILIES, TO THE POTENTIAL DANGERS,
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"WITH INCREASED AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES THE RISK OF ABUSE CAN, I WOULD HOPE, BE MINIMISED, AND THE TREATMENT AND AFTERCARE OF THESE CASES HANDLED MR CHAMBERS ADDED.
WITH MORK INSIGIIT AND
SENSITIVITY,
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