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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1985

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THE SOURCES OF INFORMATION CONCERNING CHILD ABUSE INCLUDED HOSPITALS, POLICE, SCHOOLS, CHILD CARE CENTRES, NEIGHBOURS, RELATIVES, FRIENDS AND EVEN PARENTS THEMSELVES.

ON RECEIVING THE INFORMATION, THE FAMILY SERVICES CENTRE STAFF WOULD TAKE ACTION TO STOP THE ABUSE AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN. IF THE CASE WAS SERIOUS, EMERGENCY MEASURES WOULD BE TAKEN TO REMOVE THE CHILD AND THE POLICE WOULD BE INFORMED.

THE STAFF WOULD ALSO PROVIDE COUNSELLING SERVICE TO THE PARENTS TO HELP THEM SOLVE THE IR PERSONAL PROBLEMS WHICH WERE OFTEN THE CAUSE OF CHILD ABUSE, MR KWOK SAID, ADDING THAT EVERY EFFORT WOULD BE MADE TO KEEP THE CHILD WITHIN THE FAMILY HOME.

IF NO OTHER ALTERNATIVES WERE AVAILABLE, THE CHILD WOULD BE PLACED IN A CHILDREN'S HOME, A SMALL GROUP HOME OR A FOSTER HOME, HE SAID. WHERE NECESSARY, A CARE AND PROTECTION ORDER WOULD BE OBTAINED FROM THE COURT TO PROVIDE SPECIAL PROTECTION FOR THE CHILD.

MR KWOK ALSO CALLED ON THE PUBLIC TO USE THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HOTLINE 3-432255 TO REPORT CASES OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE.

LAST YEAR, 540 CALLS INVOLVING CHILD ABUSE WERE RECEIVED ON THE HOTLINE SERVICE. OF THESE, 134 SUSPECTED CASES WERE INVESTIGATED BY FAMILY SERVICES CENTRE STAFF WHO UNCOVERED 28 GENUINE CASES.

+ IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR THERE WERE 95 REPORTS OF CHILD ABUSE ON THE HOTLINE, AND 10 OF THESE HAVE PROVED TO BE GENUINE CASES, MR KWOK SAID.

DUCHESS OF KENT TO VISIT HK

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HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF KENT WILL VISIT HONG KONG FROM JANUARY 30 TO FEBRUARY 4, 1986.

DURING HER VISIT HRH WILL BE THE GUEST OF THE ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AND OF THE JOCKEY CLUB FOR THE INAUGURATION OF THE THEATRE BLOCK OF THE NEW ACADEMY.

HER PROGRAMME WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE OPENING OF A MAJOR RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION ENTITLED 'THE ART OF HENRY MOORE'.

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