XN000022-1987-12-14 — Page 3

N

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1987

CONTINUING EFFORT NEEDED TO COMBAT CHILD ABUSE

CONTINUING EFFORT IS NEEDED TO IMPROVE THE SERVICE TO FAMILIES, THE PROFESSIONALS WHO NEED AS WELL AS TO IMPROVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF

DANGEROUS GOVERNOR, LADY WILSON,

SKILLS TO WORK WITH

THE COMPLEX AND POTENTIALLY VERY

SITUATIONS IN CHILD ABUSE CASES, WIFE OF THE SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

SHE

WAS OFFICIATING

AT

THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE ON CHILD ABUSE IN THE LADY TRENCH AUDITORIUM, DUKE OF WINDSOR SOCIAL SERVICE BUILDING, WAN CHAI.

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE

THE CONFERENCE IS

THE

THE SOCIAL WELFARE IN SOCIAL SERVICE

BY JOINTLY ORGANISED DEPARTMENT AND

HONG KONG

OF COUNCIL CO-OPERATION WITH AGAINST CHILD ABUSE. LADY WILSON IS PATRON.

THE CONFERENCE

BECOME MORE AWARE OF THE LADY WILSON NOTED THAT PEOPLE HAD

ABUSE IN HONG KONG WITHIN THE DISTRESSING PROBLEM OF CHILD

LAST CHILD ABUSE DECADE AND THERE WERE NOW SOCIAL WORKERS SPECIALISING IN WORK BOTH IN THE STATUTORY AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

THIS WAS A BEGINNING, BUT IT WAS NOT ENOUGH, SHE SAID, AND CONFERENCE WAS PART OF THE CONTINUING EFFORT TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM.

THE

WITH NOT THE

"WE KNOW FROM COUNTRIES WITH LONGER EXPERIENCE OF DEALING CHILD ABUSE THAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR HANDLING THIS PROBLEM IS SOLE PRESERVE OF ANY ONE PROFESSION OR DISCIPLINE.

THEIR

OVERSEAS HAVE HIGHLIGATED **A NUMBER OF CHILD ABUSE ENQUIRIES THE DANGERS WHICH MAY ARISE WHEN PROFESSIONALS WORK ONLY WITHIN OWN AREA OF OPERATION, LEAVING GAPS THROUGH WHICH INCIDENTS CAN ESCAPE UNNOTICED, OR MISUNDERSTANDINGS OCCUR,

"IT

IS

VERY IMPORTANT THAT IS CLEARLY DISCIPLINE EFFECTIVE SERVICE WHEN WORKING TOGETHER,

FI

OF ABUSE LADY WILSON SAID.

THE

1 N UNDERSTOOD.

OF ROLE

AGENCY OR EACH ORDER TO PROVIDE A MORE || SHE ADDED.

WE

STRESSING OUR RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS OUR CHILDREN, SHE SAID

HONG KONG WERE POSSIBLY COULD NOT BE COMPLACENT THOUGH CHILDREN IN MORE PRIVILEGED THAN THOSE IN MANY OTHER PARTS OF ASIA.

"CHILDREN ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL AS OUR FUTURE.

"THIS BRINGS WITH IT A RESPONSIBILITY TO

中中 SHE SAID.

KNOW HOW TO CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN,

"PEOPLE WHO ABUSE THEIR CHILDREN

ENSURE THAT PARENTS

ARE NOT OFTEN MONSTERS OR

SADISTS BUT THEY DO NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP.

"EXCESSIVE VIOLENCE TO CHILDREN MUST BE APPROPRIATE METHODS OF DISCIPLINE LEARNED AND USED,

CONDEMNED

AND

SHE EMPHASISED.

/LADY WILSON