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Family plays an important role in society
The Director of Social Welfare, Mr Andrew Leung Kin-pong, spelt out the importance of the family unit, describing it as "a vital component of society".
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Social Welfare Department's (SWD) Ma On Shan Family Services Centre today (Friday), Mr Leung said the family unit was an intimate environment in which personal care, mutual support and emotional security were provided.
"The increasing number of broken families resulted from separation and divorces, and the more and more families moving to new towns, would affect the mutual care between these families and their relatives," he said.
"The establishment of the family services centres, staffed by professional social workers, is designed to help individuals and families to cope with their problems."
SWD at present runs 42 such centres throughout the territory to maintain and to strengthen the effectiveness of the family unit in district level.
Mr Leung noted that there was a significant increase in population in the developing Ma On Shan new town, rising from 80,000 in 1992 to 130,000 at present,
He urged local residents with difficulties to approach this new family services centre for help without delay to avoid any unpleasant mishaps.
In general, problems handled by family services centres mainly involve interpersonal relationship problems, single parents, care or protection of children and young people, children or adolescents with behavioural problems, and people with mental or physical disabilities.
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HIV/AIDS situation in third quarter
A total of 36 persons were found to be positive for the HIV Antibody Test in the third quarter of 1996, the Department of Health announced today (Friday). This brings the number of HIV infected persons in Hong Kong to 738.
Fourteen new AIDS cases were reported during the same period.