XN000022-1982-03-24 — Page 19

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1982

+MY VIEW IS THAT THE SALARY FOR INDIVIDUAL POSTS SHOULD BE COMPETITIVE IN ITSELF IN THE OPEN MARKET BOTH LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS SO THAT THE RIGHT CALIBRE OF APPLICANT IS ATTRACTED BUT DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE PROVISION OF SUCH A PLETHORA OF FRINGE BENEFITS IS A SUITABLE WAY TO ENCOURAGE THE BEST BRAINS AND TALENTS BOTH HERE AND OVERSEAS TO ENTER OUR CIVIL SERVICE,+ MR YEUNG SAID.

THE CONTINUED PAYMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL FRINGE BENEFITS, HE ADDED, MIGHT PROVE DIFFICULT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO JUSTIFY ESPECIALLY AS THEY ARE FUNDED FROM THE PUBLIC PURSE.

WHILE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REVERSE A TREND, HE FELT THAT A SENSIBLE AND MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE FORMULA COULD BE FOUND IN THE CONTEXT OF A REVIEW OF THE FUNCTION, RECRUITMENT, PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF CIVIL SERVANTS.

CONCERN ABOUT CHILD ABUSE

*****

DR THE HON HO KAM-FA! URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO APPOINT A SENIOR RANKING OFFICIAL TO CHAIR THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL CHILD ABUSE CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE ALL CASES OF CHILD ABUSE.

AS HE UNDERSTOOD IT, THE COMMITTEE IS CURRENTLY CHAIRED BY A REGIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

SINCE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ARE OF NECESSITY COMPLEX IN NATURE AND WIDE-RANGING IN KIND, HE SAID, THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THIS VERY USEFUL COMMITTEE SHOULD BE HIGH RANKING ENOUGH TO COMMAND THE FULL CO-OPERATION OF ALL DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED, AND ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE CONSIDERABLY EXPANDED.

+THE COMMITTEE SHOULD BE VESTED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF INITIATING AND REVIEWING POLICIES, CO-ORDINATING PLANNING, ESTIMATING FINANCIAL AND MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, AND MONITORING PROGRAMME EFFECTIVENESS IN SAFEGUARDING THE WELFARE OF BATTERED CHILDREN.

*THE EARLY ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTRAL REGISTRY OF ALL CHILD ABUSE VICTIMS AND POTENTIAL CHILDREN AT RISK SHOULD BE GIVEN SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.

+LEGISLATION MAY HAVE TO BE ENACTED TO MAKE STATUTORY REPORTING BY DOCTORS AND TEACHERS OF SUSPECTED CASES OF CHILD MALTREATMENT, HE SAID.

DR HO TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NO STATISTICS TO SHOW THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM, OBSERVATIONS FROM INFORMED SOURCES - SUCH AS MAGISTRATES, PAEDIATRICIANS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND THE POLICE -TEND TO INDICATE THAT CHILD MALTREATMENT IS MUCH MORE SERIOUS AND WIDESPREAD THAN GENERALLY PRESUMED.

THIS HAS BEEN