XN000022-1978-03-15 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1978

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PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES (AMENDMENT) BILL WELCOMED

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UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS. THE HON. MRS. KWAN KO SIU- WAH AND THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT WELCOMED THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES (AMENDMENT) BILL AT ITS SECOND READING TODAY BUT URGED THAT FURTHER PROVISION BE MADE TO ENABLE YOUNG GIRLS WHO ARE IN NEED OF HELP TO BE MORE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED.

THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY THE BILL WOULD INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY WITH WHICH YOUNG PERSONS WOULD BE PLACED UNDER SUPERVISION BY COURT ORDER AND MAKE THIS SUPERVISION MORE EFFECTIVE, MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH SAID.

SHE RECOMMENDED, HOWEVER, THAT IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THE SCOPE OF PROTECTION, A SECTION IN THE BILL SHOULD BE WIDENED TO EXTEND THE POWER OF THE POLICE TO TAKE GIRLS BETWEEN THE AGE OF 16-18 WHO ARE IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION TO A PLACE OF REFUGE.

SHE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT A SECTION OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE BE WIDENED TO EMPOWER THE AUTHORITY TO DEAL WITH GIRLS IN THIS AGE GROUP WHO ARE LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED TO ANY MORAL OR PHYSICAL DANGER.

THE REV. BENNETT ALSO URGED THAT THIS SECTION BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL POWERS TO PROTECT GIRLS OF 16 OR 17 WHO ARE NO LONGER CHILDREN OR YOUNG PERSONS AS DEFINED IN LAW.

SHE WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT THE BILL AS PROPOSED DID NOT PLUG THIS LOOPHOLE ALTHOUGH IN 1973 WHEN SHE CONSULTED THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE ABOUT THE REASON WHY THE POLICE HAD NO POWER TO PUT THESE GIRLS IN A PLACE OF REFUGE SO THAT THE PARENTS WERE HELPED TO CONTROL THEM, THE REPLY WAS THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS AWARE OF THE LOOPHOLE.

+OUR WOMEN POLICE ARE DOING A FINE JOB TO HELP PROTECT YOUNG FEMALES AND CHILDREN. DO NOT LET US TIE THEIR HANDS BY ALLOWING THE LAW TO BE UNCLEAR AND PROVIDING LOOPHOLES FOR THEM NOT TO TAKE ANY ACTION,+ SHE SAID.

THE TWO UNOFFICIALS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE ADEQUACY OF HOMES FOR GIRLS WHICH PROVIDE REFUGE FOR YOUNG GIRLS.

MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH POINTED OUT THAT EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF THE ORDINANCE RELIES ON THE CO-OPERATION AND HARD WORK OF THESE INSTITUTIONS, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, AND THE POLICE, AND EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION DEPENDS TO A CONSIDERABLE EXTENT ON THE IR QUALITY AND QUANTITY.

THE REV. BENNETT CALLED ON THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO COMPLETE ITS STAFFING PLANS SOON FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE NEW MA TAU WEI GIRLS' HOME WHICH WILL BE READY THIS SUMMER AND BE ABLE TO HOUSE 144 GIRLS.

SHE ALSO POINTED