6
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1994
"IN LINE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION, MINIMUM SEPARATION THE BILL PROVIDES FOR A REDUCTION IN THE CURRENT
ONE YEAR PERIODS THAT APPLY TO DIVORCE PETITIONS FROM TWO YEARS TO
TWO WHERE BOTH PARTIES CONSENT TO THE DIVORCE AND FROM FIVE YEARS TO
** THE SPOKESMAN SAID. YEARS WHERE ONE PARTY DOES NOT CONSENT,
AS REGARDS THE CURRENT TIME LIMIT
DURING WHICH PROCEEDINGS
AFTER
FOR DIVORCE CANNOT BE ENTERED INTO EXCEPT UNDER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES,
FROM THREE YEARS THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THIS TO BE REDUCED MARRIAGE TO ONE YEAR.
DIVORCE BY
"IN ADDITION, A NEW NON-ADVERSARIAL PROCEDURE OF MUTUAL CONSENT IS PROVIDED FOR IN THE BILL BASED ON EITHER ONE YEAR'S THERE PRIOR SEPARATION OR A ONE YEAR'S PERIOD OF NOTICE, DURING WHICH WOULD BE NO REQUIREMENT FOR SEPARATION.
T
UNDER THE PRESENT LAW DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS MAY ONLY BE CONDUCTED ON THE ADVERSARIAL BASIS OF PETITIONERS AND RESPONDENTS.
**ALL THESE PROPOSALS
CONSULTATION
IN THE EXTENSIVE COMMISSION OF RELEVANT OF A WELL
FINDINGS AS THE THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ARE FIRMLY GROUNDED BY THE LAW REFORM UNDERTAKEN
AS GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY OF PUBLIC OPINION,"
EXPERT
11
MORE GENERALLY, AND IRRESPECTIVE OF ITS PROPOSALS FOR REFORM OF DESIRABILITY OF THE LAW, THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION EMPHASISED THE
PROMOTION OF MARRIAGE GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE AVAILABILITY AND COUNSELLING SERVICES.
SOCIAL WELFARE IMPROVEMENTS IN
IN THIS REGARD, THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THE
HAD DEPARTMENT
ALREADY EMBARKED ON A PROGRAMME OF FAMILY WELFARE SERVICES TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND MARRIAGES.
IN
NEW 1994/95, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL OPEN EIGHT
SERVICES ARE COUNSELLING WHERE MARRIAGE CENTRES, SERVICES FAMILY PROVIDED, BRINGING THE TERRITORY-WIDE TOTAL TO 62.
OPENED
IN
WAN CHAI
HONG
DEPARTMENT IN JUNE THIS YEAR, THE KONG'S FIRST FAMILY CARE DEMONSTRATION AND RESOURCE CENTRE.
BEEN IN ADDITION, 19FAMILY ACTIVITY AND RESOURCE CENTRES HAVE
IN TERRITORY
THE CURRENT LOCALITIES OF THE UP IN DIFFERENT FINANCIAL YEAR.
SET
INCREASED
ΤΟ FAMILY LIFE WERE ALSO BEING DEVOTED RESOURCES EDUCATION AND THE PROMOTION OF FAMILY WELFARE SERVICES, HE ADDED.
THE REFORM THE SPOKESMAN SAID: "IN ADDITION TO IMPLEMENTING PROPOSALS OF THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION, THE OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN TAKEN DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN THE BILL TO RECTIFY SEVERAL INSTANCES OF BETWEEN THE SEXES IN THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE.'
144
THE BILL IS DUE TO HAVE ITS FIRST READING IN COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 12.
THE
LEGISLATIVE
17..