XN000022-1985-11-13 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1985

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WELFARE SERVICES PROVIDED FOR FAMILIES IN DIFFICULTIES

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THE FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES PROVIDE A RANGE OF SERVICES TO ASSIST FAMILIES IN DIFFICULTIES, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON SELINA CHOW ON CRIMES OCCURRING WITHIN FAMILIES, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT ON THE PREVENTIVE SIDE, THESE ORGANISATIONS PROVIDED COUNSELLING AND ORGANISED FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES.

CASH ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES WAS PROVIDED AS WELL AS A RANGE OF DIRECT SERVICES TO HELP SUCH FAMILIES TO COPE WITH THE IR PROBLEMS, HE SAID.

+WHERE NECESSARY, TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION CAN BE ARRANGED FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN AFFECTED BY VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY.

+THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF WOMEN OPERATES A SHELTER FOR THIS PURPOSE AND A FURTHER CENTRE TO BE OPERATED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE IN OPERATION DURING THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR,+ HE SAID.

HE SAID, WHILE THE FIGURES FLUCTUATED FROM YEAR TO YEAR THE NUMBER OF CASES OF HOMICIDE AND SERIOUS ASSAULTS ARISING FROM DISPUTES OF A DOMESTIC NATURE, OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN AND INCEST HAD REMAINED AT SIMILAR LEVELS SINCE 1981.

+FROM THE STATISTICS KEPT BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, NO PARTICULAR TREND CAN BE IDENTIFIED, HE SAID.

MR CHAMBERS ADDED THAT THE FORMAT IN WHICH STATISTICS WERE AT PRESENT KEPT IN THE CORONER'S COURT DID NOT ENABLE THE AUTHORITIES TO IDENTIFY THE NUMBER OF SUICIDES WHICH MIGHT HAVE RESULTED FROM DOMESTIC DISPUTES.

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