XN000022-1972-03-15 — Page 44

Wednesday, March 15, 1972

He also suggested that during the trial period, the Director

of Medical and Health Services should keep a close watch on the situation.

"The question whether or not the law should be extended or made

permanent, with or without modifications, can be determined in the light

of the experience gained," Sir Yuet-keung added.

Two other Unofficial Members, the Hon. Ellen Li and the Hon.

Wilson T.S. Wang, also spoke on the bill.

Mrs. Li said she was sure that she was not alone in feeling that

the social aspect, the family circumstances and the welfare of the

existing children should be taken into account.

"Furthermore," she said, "the woman herself should be given a

chance to decide on her own destiny, not the husband or the mother-in-law,

and certainly not a third unknown party in cases of rape."

"A determined mother who tried very hard but still failed to prevent

an unwanted pregnancy should also be given a choice, she added.

11

Mr. Wang spoke of his experiences during his years with the Tung

Wah Hospital and said that nothing had grieved him more than to see sad

faces in the maternity ward and to deal with cases of abandoned babies.

He urged the Council "to cast a sympathetic eye on such victims

and introduce further amendments to this bill in order to bring the social

aspects of the problem into consideration."

Release time: 10.00 p.m.