XN000022-1986-05-30 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, MAY 30, 1986

GOVERNOR: WELFARE OF MOTHER, CHILD PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT STAFF HAVE BEEN AND ARE DOING THE IR VERY BEST FOR FIVE-YEAR-OLD KWOK AH-NUI AND HER MOTHER, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

+THEY HAVE BEEN LOOKING FIRST FOR THE WELFARE OF THE MOTHER AND THE CHILD, AND THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE, AND THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE, AND I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THAT VERY CONSCIENTIOUSLY, HE SAID.

SIR EDWARD WAS REPLYING TO QUESTIONS FROM REPORTERS AFTER A TOUR OF SHAM SHUI PO THIS AFTERNOON.

ASKED WHETHER HE WAS SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THE DEPARTMENT HAD HANDLED THE CASE, SIR EDWARD SAID HE HAD EVERY CONFIDENCE IN THE SWD, WHICH WAS DOING ITS VERY BEST FOR THE MOTHER AND THE CHILD.

+1 THINK THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE EMPHASIS ON THAT, AND OTHER THINGS CAK BE DISCUSSED. LET'S KEEP THE EMPHASIS ON THE GOOD OF THE MOTHER AND THE CHILD, HE SAID.

+ HAVE SEEN NOTHING, I MUST SAY, WHICH CAUSES ME TO THINK THAT THEY DID OTHER THAN ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE MOTHER AND THE CHILD.+

ON SUGGESTIONS THAT THERE WERE NO GROUNDS FOR THE SWD TO FORCE ITS WAY INTO THE GIRL'S HOME AS THE CHILD WAS NOT ABUSED OR NEGLECTED, SIR EDWARD SAID THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, HAD GIVEN A VERY FULL EXPLANATION ON WHY IT WAS FELT THIS WAS NECESSARY.

+ IF YOU GO BACK AND HAVE A LOOK TO SEE WHAT SHE SAYS YOU WILL SEE THE JUSTIFICATION WHICH THEY FELT WAS NECESSARY, THE JUST IF ICATION THEY FELT THAT ACTING IN THIS WAY WAS IN THE INTEREST OF THE CHILD AND THE MOTHER.

+ I KNOW THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO DON'T AGREE WITH IT. BUT IN CASES OF THIS KIND YOU WILL NEVER FIND EVERYBODY WILL AGREE WITH WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.

+BUT IN THE LAST RESORT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAVE TO ACT TO THE BEST OF THE IR CONSCIENCE, AND I THINK THEY DID THAT.+

IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION, SIR EDWARD SAID HE DID NOT THINK THERE WAS A NEED TO SET UP A SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE CASE. HE SAID: UNTIL SOMEBODY SHOWS ME THAT THERE IS A BETTER WAY OF HANDLING IT I DON'T SEE ANY NEED FOR ANY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION INTO THIS.

/+BUT AS