XN000022-1991-06-26 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1991

*

EXCLUDING THE OTHER PARTY FROM THE MATRIMONIAL PART OF THE HOME; AND

HOME, OR A

REQUIRING THE OTHER PARTY TO PERMIT THE APPLICANT ΤΟ ENTER AND REMAIN IN THE MATRIMONIAL HOME, OR A PART OF THE HOME.

THERE IS NO MAXIMUM PERIOD FOR AN

FIRST TWO CONDITIONS.

INJUNCTION

CONTAINING THE

THE COURT, AFTER CONSIDERING ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, DECIDES THE APPROPRIATE PERIOD FOR THE INJUNCTION WHICH BEST ENSURES THE SAFETY OF THE APPLICANT AND THE CHILDREN.

IN RESPECT OF INJUNCTIONS CONTAINING THE LAST TWO THEY MAY BE GRANTED FOR A MAXIMUM PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS.

MRS WONG SAID OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, BATTERED SPOUSE CASES REPORTED TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE 455 IN 1988-89, 272 IN 1989-90 AND 236 IN 1990-91.

H

"IN BOTH 1989 AND 1990, THE POLICE HANDLED 181 INVOLVING ABUSE OF A SPOUSE OR COHABITANT, SHE SAID, THE FIRST QUARTER THIS YEAR IS 47."

CONDITIONS,

THE NUMBER OF DEPARTMENT WAS

REPORTED CASES "THE FIGURE

FOR

JUDICIARY OVER

THE NUMBER OF DIVORCE PETITIONS FILED WITH THE THE LAST THREE YEARS WAS 5,893 IN 1988, 6,275 IN 1989 AND 6,767 LAST YEAR.

MRS WONG SAID NO RECORD WAS MAINTAINED OF THE NUMBER OF DIVORCE PETITIONS WHERE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FACTOR.

"THIS IS BECAUSE OF DIFFICULTIES IN INTERPRETATION ARISING COMPLAINTS AND PARTLY FROM THE FACT THAT ABUSE MAY BE ONE OF SEVERAL PARTLY BECAUSE NOT ALL ALLEGATIONS MADE IN DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS ARE PROVED," SHE EXPLAINED.

MRS WONG SAID THERE WERE TWO RESIDENTIAL CENTRES PROVIDING EMERGENCY AND TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION TO ABUSED WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN ONE RUN BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT (SWD) AND THE OTHER BY A SUBVENTED NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATION (NGO).

ORGANISED PROGRAMMES INCLUDING COUNSELLING AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES WERE CONDUCTED IN THE CENTRES, SHE ADDED.

THE TWO CENTRES PROVIDE A TOTAL OF 80 PLACES UTILISATION RATE OF 70 PER CENT IN 1990-91 (76 PER CENT CENTRE AND, 63 PER CENT FOR THE NGO CENTRE).

FOR

WITH A THE SWD

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