XN000022-1990-06-06 — Page 26

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990

HOWEVER, MR STRACHAN SAID, BECAUSE OF THE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR UNDER PRESSURE THERE WOULD ALWAYS THE UNFORESEEN.

OF

UNPREDICTABILITY

BE AN ELEMENT OF

"WITH THE LOOSENING OF TRADITIONAL FAMILY TIES, FAMILY MEMBERS WITH SERIOUS PROBLEMS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FIND SUPPORT AND HELP WITHIN THE EXTENDED FAMILY.

"SOMETIMES, TRADITIONAL CHINESE VALUES, SUCH AS KEEPING FAMILY PROBLEMS WITHIN THE FAMILY, TEND TO INHIBIT PROPLE IN TROUBLE FROM SEEKING PROFESSIONAL HELP AT AN EARLY STAGE," HE SAID.

"WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO CHANGE THESE ENTRENCHED ATTITUDES, AND TO ENHANCE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE VARIOUS WELFARE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM, " HE SAID.

ON THE CAUSES OF DOMESTIC HOMICIDES, MR STRACHAN SAID SUCH TRAGEDIES WERE ATTRIBUTABLE TO A WIDE RANGE OF FACTORS.

"DIRECT CAUSES INCLUDE PROBLEMS ARISING FROM PERSONALITY AND COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES; MARITAL DISCORD; FINANCIAL WORRIES; AND MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DISABILITIES WHICH RESULT

IN INTOLERABLE STRESS, AND EVENTUAL TRAGEDY; OR INDEED A COMBINATION CF ANY OF THESE FACTORS WHICH TOGETHER RESULT IN A FAMILY MEMBER BEING UNABLE TO FACE THE STRESSES AND PROBLEMS OF EVERY DAY LIVING.

"THE POLICE ROUTINELY REPORT ANY SUCH CASES OF SIGNIFICANCE THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, H HE SAID.

ΤΟ

MR STRACHAN SAID THE NUMBER OF DOMESTIC HOMICIDES HAD REMAINED FAIRLY CONSTANT.

THERE WERE SIX SUCH CASES IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF LAST YEAR; SEVEN IN THE SECOND QUARTER; 11 IN THE THIRD QUARTER; SIX IN THE FOURTH QUARTER; AND SEVEN IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

MR STRACHAN SAID THAT WITH THE CHANGING OF ENTRENCHED ATTITUDES AND ENHANCING OF PUBLIC AWARENESS IN MIND, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN CARRYING OUT A VARIETY OF PROGRAMMES.

THESE INCLUDED:

INTRODUCING THE PUBLIC TO SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES BY MEANS OF PAMPHLETS, POSTERS, TALKS AND EXBINITIONS, AND MAKING PEOPLE AWARE THAT IT IS NO DISGRACE TO SEEK HELP;

ORGANISING SUPPORTIVE GROUP WORK SERVICES, FAMILY LIFE AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION, THROUGH WHICH LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE HELPED ΤΟ REALISE THEIR OWN RESPONSIBILITIES TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND THE NEED TO PROMOTE MUTUAL AID AND NEIGHBOURLINESS, SO THAT TIMELY ASSISTANCE CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES AT RISK; AND

IN TERMS OF THE PROVISION OF WELFARE SERVICES, GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WORKING TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, DEVELOPING APPROPRIATE SUPPORTING WELFARE SERVICES, IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF EXISTING SOCIAL SERVICES, AND FORMING COMMUNITY NETWORKS AMONG SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANISATIONS THE PUBLIC.

AND

/IN ADDITION