XN000022-1989-06-28 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1989

"THE PRESENT ORDINANCE FALLS FAR SHORT OF ITS AIM TO REHABILITATE, AND I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THE ORDINANCE WILL BE SUITABLY AMENDED TO REMEDY THESE SHORTCOMINGS." SHE SAID.

MRS TU ALSO HOPED THAT THE AMENDMENTS WOULD RESTORE THE POWER OF MAGISTRATES TO ORDER THAT NO CRIMINAL CONVICTION BE RECORDED.

SHE SAID THE PRESENT ORDINANCE WAS INFERIOR TO THE 1974 ACT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THAT IT APPEARED THAT THE LEGAL SYSTEM DETERMINED THAT ONCE A YOUNGSTER HAD COMMITTED AN OFFENCE, UE MUST SUFFER THE STIGMA FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

MRS TU BELIEVED THAT A CHILD WHOSE PARENTS DID NOT LIVE IN HARMONY WITH EACH OTHER WAS NOT LIKELY TO ENJOY A SENSE OF FAMILY SECURITY, BECAUSE FRICTION BETWEEN PARENTS COULD LEAD TO ONE OR BOTH PARENTS WORKING OUT THEIR FRUSTRATIONS ON THE CHILD WHO HAPPENED TO GET IN THE WAY.

"THE PRESSURE OF LIFE IN HONG KONG ON PARENTS WHO ARE INCOMPATIBLE. OR ON SINGLE PARENTS WHO CANNOT COPE, IS PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF CHILD ABUSE, SOMETIMES RESULTING IN A CHILD'S DEATH.

"I BELIEVE A GREAT DEAL COULD BE DONE ΤΟ SAVE A CHILD FROM PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE IF EVERY SCHOOL HAD A FULL-TIME SOCIAL WORKER, TRAINED TO COMMUNICATE WITH CHILDREN AT RISK, AND PARENTS IN NEED OF GUIDANCE." SHE SUGGESTED.

SHE SAID IN A MODERN SOCIETY, NEW SOLUTIONS NEEDED TO BE FOUND TO FAMILY PROBLEMS THAT AFFECTED THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN, AND THAT WITH A SOCIAL WORKER IN EVERY SCHOOL, THE HOME PROBLEMS COULD EXAMINED IN DEPTH.

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"THE SOLUTION COULD BE A SIMPLE ONE, SHE SAID, "SUCH A9 RECOMMENDING THAT A SINGLE PARENT BE TRANSFERRED TO PUBLIC HOUSING NEAR TO A SYMPATHETIC RELATIVE OR FRIEND.

"IN SOME CASES, THE PARENTS OF AN ABUSED CHILD MAY NEED TO BE REFERRED TO A MARRIAGE GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR.

"IN AN EXTREME CASE. A CHILD MAY NEED TO BE PLACED UNDER THE CARE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOR PROTECTION."

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