40 -
Sexual abuse cases involving children
Following is a question by Dr the Hon David Li Kwok-po and a written reply by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
According to the figures released by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service in the first three quarters of 1994, sexual abuse cases involving children rose by almost a third as compared to the corresponding period in the preceding year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether:
(a)
(b)
additional provision will be allocated for preventive education; and
consideration will be given to introducing a mandatory set of standards for child- minding services and providing training programmes in order to monitor the quality of such services?
Reply:
According to statistics maintained by the Social Welfare Department (SWD), the number of reported sexual abuse cases involving children increased from 54 in 1993 to 73 in 1994.
In March 1995, we launched the first phase of a major publicity campaign aimed at educating the general public about the early detection and reporting of all child abuse cases including those involving sexual abuse. The campaign includes television announcements, a poster, a series of leaflets on each category of abuse and a radio programme. The second phase of the campaign will be launched towards the end of this year. To promote community education and to tackle the problem at district level, SWD will set up multi-disciplinary district committees on child abuse in five districts within this financial year. This approach is building on the successful pilot scheme conducted in Tuen Mun where a district forum was established in September 1993.