XN000022-1985-04-19 — Page 16

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RIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985

SHE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT SUFFICIENT RESOURCES COULD BE IDENTIFIED LATER IN THE YEAR TO ESTABLISH A SMALL EMERGENCY SECTION WITHIN THIS NEW HOME TO CATER FOR ABUSED CHILDREN REQUIRING TEMPORARY, AND PROBABLY INTENSIVE CARE.

ON THE PREVENTIVE FRONT, MRS CHAN REFERRED TO THE GOVERNMENT'S SOCIAL POLICIES ON CASH SUPPORT, HOUSING, EDUCATION, MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES AND SAID THAT CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS IN THESE SERVICES WERE BOUND TO HAVE A BENEFICIAL EFFECT.

SHE ALSO MENTIONED FACILITIES SUCH AS CHILDREN'S AND * YOUTH CENTRES, CHILD CARE SERVICES, DISTRICT AND TERRITORY-WIDE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES, WOMEN'S GROUPS AND HOME HELP.

MRS CHAN SAID THAT IN 1985-86, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PROPOSED TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS ESTABLISHING A CENTRAL REGISTRY OF ABUSED CHILDREN.

VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WOULD BE CONSULTED ON THE ACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME, SHE SAID.

COMMENTING ON THE QUESTION OF MANDATORY REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE, MRS CHAN SAID THAT LEGISLATION ENACTED WITH THE BEST OF INTENTIONS SOMETIMES HAD UNFORESEEN CONSEQUENCES. SHE FELT THAT LEGAL INTERVENTION COULD ONLY BE JUSTIFIED IF VOLUNTARY MEANS FAILED, AND IF IT DID NOT COMPROMISE THE INTERESTS OF PARENTS AND CHILD AND THOSE PROFESSIONALS WHO HAD TO WORK TOWARDS THE IR REHABILITATION.

FURTHERMORE, SHE SAID, LEGISLATION TO BE EFFECTIVE HAD TO BE ENFORCED. +WHEREAS WE COULD COPE WITH INVESTIGATING A HUNDRED ODD REPORTS OF ALLEGED ABUSE, IT IS SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE TO COPE WITH A SUDDEN DELUGE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED REPORTS, SHE EXPLAINED.

BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY IN DEFINING CHILD ABUSE+, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE DEPARTMENT'S EXPERIENCE IN OPERATING ITS HOTLINE, IT WAS LIKELY THAT ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF REPORTS

WOULD BE SUBSTANTIATED UPON INVESTIGATION.

SHE ADDED THAT IT WAS ALSO NOT EASY TO PRESCRIBE AN APPROPRIATE PENALTY THAT WOULD HAVE A SUFFICIENT DETERRENT EFFECT WITHOUT BEING TOO HARSH.

+ON BALANCE, THEREFORE, MANDATORY REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE WOULD NOT APPEAR TO BE APPROPRIATE AT THIS STAGE, SHE SAID.

NOTE TO EDITORS.

THE TEXT OF MRS CHAN'S SPEECH WILL BE BOXED.

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