XN000022-1991-05-29 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1991

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NO INDICATION OF INCREASING

INVOLVEMENT OF UNDERAGED GIRLS IN PROSTITUTION

THE INVOLVEMENT OF GIRLS UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE IN PROSTITUTION HAS NOT BEEN INCREASING IN RECENT YEARS, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF WHICH COME TO THE NOTICE OF THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED.

CASES

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ROSANNA TAM, THE THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT HAVE AVAILABLE STATISTICS INFORMATION WHICH INDICATED THE FULL EXTENT OF THIS PROBLEM.

SAID

SECRETARY OTHER

OR

HE NOTED THAT THE NUMBER OF GIRLS UNDER THE AGE OF 16 REPORTED MISSING WHO WERE SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND BY THE POLICE IN EMPLOYMENT IN VICE ESTABLISHMENTS WERE 62 IN 1988, 27 IN 1989, 24 LAST YEAR AND FIVE SO FAR THIS YEAR.

SECONDLY, THE NUMBERS OF GIRLS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 IN RESPECT OF WHOM APPLICATIONS WERE MADE TO THE JUVENILE COURT FOR CARE AND PROTECTION ORDERS WERE 479 IN 1988, 427 IN 1989, 288 LAST YEAR AND 81 SO FAR THIS YEAR.

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"MANY, THOUGH BY NO MEANS OF ALL, OF THESE APPLICATIONS ARE MADE IN RESPECT OF GIRLS FOUND IN EMPLOYMENT IN VICE ESTABLISHMENTS, MR ASPREY SAID.

THIRDLY, THE NUMBER OF GIRLS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ENGAGED IN PROSTITUTION WHO HAD COME TO THE NOTICE OF THE FAMILY WELFARE SERVICES BRANCH OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD REMAINED CONSTANT AT ABOUT 200 IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.

CARE

AS ΤΟ THE MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM, THE SECRETARY SAID WHERE YOUNG GIRLS WERE FOUND IN EMPLOYMENT IN VICE ESTABLISHMENTS, AND RECOMMENDED BY SOCIAL WORKERS AS IN NEED OF AND PROTECTION, AN APPLICATION FOR A CARE AND PROTECTION ORDER WOULD BE MADE TO THE JUVENILE COURT.

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"THE COURT MAY PLACE A JUVENILE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER FOR A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING THREE YEARS, HE SAID.

BESIDES SUPERVISION, THE SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER WOULD COUNSEL THE GIRL AND HER PARENTS, ASSIST WITH SCHOOLING AND EMPLOYMENT, AND IF NECESSARY ARRANGE FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE.

WELFARE

"SIMILAR ASSISTANCE MAY BE GIVEN TO GIRLS WHO COME то THE NOTICE OF THE FAMILY WELFARE SERVICES BRANCH OF THE SOCIAL DEPARTMENT, MR ASPREY SAID.

/HE ALSO