XN000022-1987-12-02 — Page 17

15

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1987

REGULAR REMINDERS WERE GIVEN THROUGH RADIO BROADCASTS, AT MEETINGS WITH FISHERMEN'S CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES AND AT VARIOUS VOCATIONAL TRAINING COURSES, HE SAID.

"ALSO, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT OFFERS TO LOCAL FISHERMEN TRAINING IN NAVIGATION AND THE USE OF MODERN

NAVIGATIONAL AIDS.

"

IN THE EVENT OF A HONG KONG FISHING VESSEL AND HER CREW BEING DETAINED BY FOREIGN AUTHORITIES, MR JACOBS SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NORMALLY TAKE ACTION THROUGH BRITISH DIPLOMATIC OR CONSULAR CHANNELS, FIRST TO ASCERTAIN THE FULL FACTS IN RELATION TO THE INCIDENT AND THEN TO SEEK THE RELEASE OF THE DETAINEES.

"BOTH THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT LIAISE WITH DETAINEES' FAMILIES IN HONG KONG.

"IN CASES OF HARDSHIP, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WOULD

ASSIST.

"UPON REPATRIATION THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IS ABLE

TO OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH LOANS ΤΟ HELP THE FISHERMEN RESUME FISHING, HE SAID.

"

AMENDMENT BILL FOR WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE

SOME URGENT AMENDMENTS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING CHILD ABUSE CASES PROPOSED BY AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP WERE ENACTED IN JULY THIS YEAR.

THIS WAS SAID BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HUI YIN-FAT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE WORKING GROUP WAS ESTABLISHED IN NOVEMBER 1986 TO REVIEW THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE TO DETERMINE WHETHER AMENDMENTS TO THE ORDINANCE WERE REQUIRED IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE PROVISIONS OF OTHER RELATED LEGISLATION, MR CHAMBERS EXPLAINED.

NOTING THAT DRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS ON THE OVERALL REVIEW WERE BEING PREPARED, MR CHAMBERS HOPED TO BE ABLE TO SEEK THE ADVICE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN THE NEW YEAR, WITH A VIEW ΤΟ INTRODUCING AN AMENDMENT BILL INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BEFORE END OF THE CURRENT SESSION.

THE

/16