XN000022-1987-06-18 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1987

ANY

OR A

THE PRESENT ORDINANCE STIPULATES THAT A PROBATION OFFICE, PERSON AUTHORISED IN WRITING BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE,

A CHILD OR POLICE OFFICER OF THE RANK OF STATION SERGEANT MAY TAKE JUVENILE WHO APPEARS TO BE IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION TO A "PLACE OF REFUGE" DECLARED BY THE GOVERNOR UNDER THE ORDINANCE AND SPECIFIED IN THE SCHEDULE TO THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES (PLACES OF REFUGE) ORDER. HOSPITALS ARE NOT AT PRESENT INCLUDED IN THE SCHEDULE.

BE

THE

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE A CHILD OR WAS SUSPECTED OF HAVING BEEN ABUSED AND REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT EXAMINATION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER HE HAD SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WHEN PARENTAL CONSENT FOR THE CHILD TO RECEIVE SUCH TREATMENT COULD NOT OBTAINED, THE CHILD COULD ONLY BE TAKEN TO A "PLACE OF REFUGE" IN AFTERWARDS BY FIRST INSTANCE AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO A HOSPITAL

OF PERSON IN CHARGE

THE PLACE OF REFUGE. "THIS PROCEDURE CUMBERSOME AND MAY NOT BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD SHOULD HE REQUIRE IMMEDIATE HOSPITAL CARE," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE

IS

THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES TO AMEND THE POWER OF SOCIAL WELFARE TO ENTER PREMISES BY FORCE.

THE

DIRECTOR OF

OR

IF

USED

KWOK

LAW

THE

SIMILAR MAKE

IT

PREMISES

BY

UNDER THE PRESENT ORDINANCE, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE

ENTER PREMISES AN AUTHORISED OFFICER, IS EMPOWERED TO

BY FORCE NECESSARY IN PURSUANCE OF THEIR DUTIES. "THIS POWER HAS BEEN VERY SPARINGLY, HOWEVER, IN THE LIGHT OF PUBLIC CONCERN OVER THE

ENGLISH AH-NUI INCIDENT AND AFTER CONSIDERING PROVISION IN THE WHICH

A REQUIRES

BE WARRANT TO

ISSUED BY A JUSTICE OF

FORCE IN PEACE BEFORE DOMESTIC PREMISES CAN BE ENTERED BY CIRCUMSTANCE, IT WAS THEN PROPOSED TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE TO NECESSARY FOR THE DIRECTOR TO OBTAIN A WARRANT FROM A MAGISTRATE, JUVENILE COURT OR DISTRICT COURT FORCE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

|

BEFORE

ENTERING ANY

PEACEFUL ENTRY,

SEARCH,

AND

REGARDING THE OTHER PROVISIONS REMOVAL OF ANY FEMALE, CHILD OR JUVENILE AT RISK TO A PLACE OF REFUGE, ARE STILL CONSIDERED NECESSARY AND WILL BE RETAINED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE HONG KONG FAMILY LAW ASSOCIATION, THE LAW SOCIETY OF HONG KONG AND THE HONG KONG BAR ASSOCIATION HAD BEEN CONSULTED AND ALL SUPPORTED THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. THE REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT ALSO SUPPORTS THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

THE BILL WILL BE GAZETTED ON JUNE 26 AND INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JULY 8.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO EXPRESS VIEWS ON THE BILL SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, 7/F CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD OR TO OMELCO, AT 8 JACKSON ROAD, CENTRAL.

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