XN000022-1993-02-10 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1993

FOR

POLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, IN THE MOTION DEBATE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON CHILDREN TRAUMA:

MR DEPUTY PRESIDENT,

THE SOCIAL ISSUES RAISED BY HONOURABLE MEMBERS DURING THIS DEBATE HAVE BEEN WIDE-RANGING, INSIGHTFUL AND EDUCATIONAL. A NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS WERE BOTH INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT. I WOULDN'T DO JUSTICE TO THESE SUGGESTIONS BY PROVIDING A QUICK OFF-THE-CUFF RESPONSE BECAUSE I THINK EACH SUGGESTION NEEDS CAREFUL ANALYSIS AND CONSIDERATION, SO IN MY REPLY I SHALL CONCENTRATE ON BROAD ISSUES AND ATTEMPT ΤΟ

COVER AREAS INADEQUATELY COVERED IN THIS VERY COMPREHENSIVE DEBATE, AND/OR TO CORRECT SOME ERRONEOUS STATEMENTS AS TO FACT. FAR BE IT FOR ME TO BE SO BOLD OR SO ARROGANT AS TO SUGGEST THAT WE IN THE GOVERNMENT ALONE KNOW THE ANSWER OR HAVE THE CURE.

PARENTS WHO ARE THE CLOSEST AND THE DEAREST TO THEIR CHILDREN N THE VAST MAJORITY OF CASES DO CARE. BUT I DO AGREE THAT WE SHOULD 10 OUR UTMOST TO HELP THEM TO CARE, TO PROVIDE THE PARENTS WITH THE SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED. FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION IS A FOCAL PRIORITY OF "OCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S EDUCATION INITIATIVE.

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A NUMBER OF INFORMATION BOOKLETS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED TO EDUCATE PARENTS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HOME SAFETY. THEY CARRY THEMES SUCH AS A SAFE HOME IS A HAPPY HOME" "SAFETY BEGINS AT HOME" AND "SAFETY PARTS AT HOME: HOW TO HAVE A SAFE HOME LIFE". NOW THESE SERMINGLY IMPLISTIC MESSAGES ARE IMPORTANT AND SHOULD BE REPEATED AND NOTED. WHILST PARENTS SHOULD NO DOUBT LEARN HOW TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS AT HOME, GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO MOUNT PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS ON HOME SAFETY. SOME NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO WORKING ON INJURY PREVENTION IN CHILDREN.

FOR CASES OF HOME ACCIDENTS THAT COULD HAVE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL REPERCUSSIONS SUCH AS EXTENSIVE BURNS, PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE CHILD BY QUALIFIED MEDICAL STAFF. THE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS WILL ALSO BE NOTIFIED AND, DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF INDIVIDUAL CASES, PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE PSYCHOLOGIST OR A CHILD PSYCHIATRIST WILL BE SOUGHT. BE PROVIDED SEPARATELY ΤΟ THE PARENTS AS TO THE PROVIDING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO THE CHILD, COMPLEMENTED SESSIONS TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF RECOVERY.

FROM A CLINICAL COUNSELLING WILL PROPER WAYS OF BY FOLLOW-UP

A NUMBER OF FATAL ACCIDENTS INVOLVING CHILDREN LEFT UNSUPERVISED AT HOME AWAKEN OUR COMMUNITY CONSCIENCE. ONE DEATH

IS ALWAYS ONE DEATH TOO MANY! THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND NON- GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE PROMOTING ENERGETICALLY THE CONCEPT OF MUTUAL HELP AMONG FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN. FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS ARE ENCOURAGED TO GROUP TOGETHER TO HELP ONE ANOTHER.

/WITH THE