XN000022-1986-07-23 — Page 23

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 1986

MR HUI ALSO URGED THAT DRAFTING OF SEPARATE LEGISLATION BE SPEEDED UP TO COVER THE GROWING ABUSE OF ELDERLY PERSONS.

HE ALSO POINTED TO THE NEED FOR QUICK, EFFICIENT LEGAL AID FOR THOSE IN DIRE NEED OF ASSISTANCE AND SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PUBLICISE URGENTLY THE LOCATIONS OF LEGAL AID OFFICES WHERE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COULD SEEK HELP.

THE HON LEE YU-TAI BELIEVED THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WAS A SOCIAL PROBLEM THAT COULD NOT BE TACKLED BY LEGISLATION ALONE.

+ YOUNG COUPLES SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO LIVE WITH THEIR PARENTS OR PARENTS-IN-LAW SO THAT MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY MAY SHARE THE HOUSEHOLD CHORES TOGETHER AND THE BURDEN ON THE YOUNG COUPLES WOULD BE REDUCED,+ HE SAID.

+PARENTS MAY ACT AS A BUFFER,+ HE SAID. +THEY MAY BE HELPFUL IN SOLVING SOME OF THE FAMILY PROBLEMS.+

HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT FAMILY EDUCATION SHOULD BE PROMOTED EXTENSIVELY AND COUNSELLING SERVICES BE PROVIDED TO FAMILIES WITH PROBLEMS.

THE HON ROSANNA TAM SAID EMPHASIS SHOULD BE PLACED ON THE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ORDINANCE SINCE THE GOAL WAS TO PROVIDE SWIFT ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION.

SHE SUGGESTED THAT THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT SHOULD DRAW UP SPECIFIC RULES, SO THAT OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE COULD CLEARLY JUDGE THE URGENCY OF EACH CASE AND ALLOW NEEDY VICTIMS TO OBTAIN ASSISTANCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

MRS TAM ALSO PROPOSED THAT THE PROCEDURES FOR AN APPLICANT TO PROVE BODILY HARM BE SIMPLIFIED SO THAT A WARRANT OF ARREST COULD BE ISSUED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, PROTECTING THE APPLICANT FROM FURTHER SUFFERING.

SHE SAID THE THREE TYPES OF COURT ORDERS MUST CARRY SUFFICIENT LEGAL SANCTION SO AS TO DETER THE RECIPIENT FROM CONTRAVENING THEIR REQUIREMENTS AND TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE OF THE VIOLENCE.

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