XN000022-1986-07-23 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 1986

VIOLENCE AGAINST ELDERLY REQUIRES SEPARATE CONSIDERATION

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PROTECTION OF THE ELDERLY FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RAISES A NUMBER OF NEW ISSUES WHICH REQUIRE SEPARATE CONSIDERATION OUTSIDE THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BILL 1986, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HOWEVER, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN ASKED TO LOOK INTO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO THE ELDERLY AND TO REPORT ON THE NEED FOR LEGISLATION, MR THOMAS SAID IN WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE BILL.

THIS WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE CONCERN EXPRESSED BY THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP WHICH SCRUTINISED THE BILL.

HE WAS GLAD THAT THE MEMBERS AGREED THAT THIS QUESTION SHOULD NOT BECOME CONFUSED WITH THE KNOWN AND PRESSING PROBLEM OF BATTERED SPOUSES AND BATTERED CHILDREN, NOR SHOULD IT DELAY THE IMPLEMENTATIO OF THE PROVISIONS THAT HAD BEEN CAREFULLY TAILORED TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.

+WHILE 1 SYMPATHISE WITH THE CONCERN, I AM AFRAID THE SOLUTION IS NOT AS SIMPLE AS ADDING THE ELDERLY TO THIS BILL,+ HE SAID.

AMONG THE POINTS HE SAID REQUIRED SEPARATE CONSIDERATION WERE DID THE PRESENT LAW FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION, SHOULD THE RELIEF EXTEND TO VIOLENCE COMMITTED BY ANYONE OR ONLY BY RELATIVES, AND HOW OLD MUST A PERSON BE TO BE ENTITLED TO PROTECTION.

MR THOMAS PAID TRIBUTE TO DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP AND HER COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR WORK IN SCRUTINISING THE BILL, SAYING:

+AS DR IP QUITE RIGHTLY POINTED OUT, THIS IS A NEW PIECE OF

THE GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION EMBODYING A NEW CONCEPT IN HONG KONG. WILL CLOSELY MONITOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND WILL WELCOME ALL COMMENTS FROM INTERESTED ORGANISATIONS AND OTHERS IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE.

IN PASSING THIS BILL INTO LAW, MEMBERS WERE PROVIDING A NEW REMEDY TO ALL VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOR WHICH THERE WAS CLEAR SUPPORT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

IN RESPONSE TO CONCERN EXPRESSED BY THE HON ROSANNA TAM ON THE AVAILABILITY OF LEGAL AID, MR THOMAS SAID HE HAD BEEN ASSURED BY THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT THAT ALL APPLICATIONS FOR LEGAL AID FROM VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WOULD BE HANDLED SYMPATHETICALLY AND WOULD BE GIVEN URGENT ATTENTION WHENEVER AN EMERGENCY APPEARED TO BE DEVELOPING.

/+AN EMERGENCY

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