XN000022-1986-07-30 — Page 6

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1986

IN CONNECTION WITH THE BREAK-IN, MR SHIPMAN SAID THE UMELCO PANEL CONSIDERED THAT MORE INTENSIVE WORK SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN PRIOR TO THE BREAK-IN, BUT THAT A SHORTAGE OF STAFF AND RESOURCES PREVENTED THE NECESSARY TIME FROM BEING DEVOTED TO THE CASE.

+THIS CONCLUSION GENERALLY ACCORDS WITH THE VIEW TAKEN BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE IN HER OWN REPORT.

+THE DIRECTOR HAS NOW SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO MAKE FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANNING SCALE AT THE FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES,+ HE SAID.

+1 WELCOME THE PANEL'S SUPPORT FOR A REVIEW OF THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE, AND WILL GIVE FURTHER THOUGHT ON HOW THIS SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN.

+THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL BE CONSULTED ON OUR PROPOSALS IN DUE COURSE.

+WHILE | ACCEPT THE PANEL'S OBSERVATION ON THE NEED FOR CHECKS AND BALANCES, IT WOULD APPEAR ALSO FROM THIS CASE THAT THE GROUNDS WHICH PERMIT A SOCIAL WORKER TO INTERVENE IN THE INTERESTS OF THE CHILD MAY BE TOO NARROWLY DEFINED.

+ THE PANEL HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT YOUNG CHILDREN BEING LEFT ALONE AT HOME. ALL ASPECTS OF THIS PROBLEM WILL BE EXAMINED, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT SHOULD BECOME A GROUND FOR THE DIRECTOR TO EXERCISE HER POWERS UNDER THE ORDINANCE,+ HE SAID.

MR SHIPMAN SAID THE UMELCO PANEL HAD CONSIDERED THAT THE BREAK-IN MIGHT BE NECESSARY IN THOSE CIRSUMSTANCES.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS HAD ADVISED THAT THE STEPS TAKEN BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND HER STAFF WERE TAKEN LAWFULLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE, HE ADDED.

AS FOR THE EFFECT WHICH THE BREAK-IN HAD, HE SAID, THE PANEL BELIEVED THAT IT WAS NOT A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO MADAM WONG'S ILLNESS, BUT THE PANEL HAD OBSERVED THAT THE FORCIBLE ENTRY HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE STRESS ON MADAM WONG.

+1 ACCEPT THIS OBSERVATION AS FAIR, BUT WOULD SIMPLY ADD THAT THE PRESSURES AROSE ALSO FROM THE PUBLICITY WHICH THE CASE WAS ATTRACTING AND FROM THE CROWD OF REPORTERS AND NEIGHBOURS OUTSIDE HER DOOR.

/+HAVING CONCLUDED