XN000022-1993-02-10 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1993

TURNING NOW TO CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, SOME CHILDREN ARE HURT NOT BECAUSE OF ACCIDENTS, BUT AS A RESULT OF DELIBERATE ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES (AMENDMENT) BILL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THIS COUNCIL IN APRIL LAST YEAR. AND 1 AM STILL WAITING FOR THE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL. THE BILL SEEKS TO GIVE BETTER PROTECTION TO CHILDREN BY WIDENING THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH A CHILD MAY BE CONSIDERED TO BE IN NEED OF CARE OR PROTECTION. THE EFFECTS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT WILL BE INCLUDED AS GROUNDS FOR CONSIDERING A CHILD TO BE IN NEED OF CARE OR PROTECTION UNDER THE ORDINANCE.

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE WILL HAVE MORE FLEXIBLE POWERS OF INTERVENTION AND INVESTIGATION WITHOUT ALWAYS HAVING FIRST то REMOVE A CHILD FROM HOME. I HOPE SINCERELY THAT THIS BILL CAN BE PASSED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES UNIT OF

SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INTENSIVE CASEWORK SERVICES FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN WHOSE SAFETY OR WELFARE IS ENDANGERED BY ABUSE OR NEGLECT OF THEIR PARENTS OR CARERS.

APART FROM SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, SPECIAL PROCEDURES HAVE ALSO BEEN ESTABLISHED IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS TO CATER FOR TRAUMATIZED CHILDREN. ALL SUSPECTED CASES OF CHILD ABUSE ARE BROUGHT IMMEDIATELY TO THE ATTENTION OF THE POLICE, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, AND THE CONSULTANT DOCTOR IN CHARGE FOR APPROPRIATE ACTIONS. CO-OPERATION WILL BE SOUGHT FROM THE PARENTS FOR THE CHILD TO BF ADMITTED FOR TREATMENT OR OBSERVATION. FOR SUCH CASES, THE HOSPITAL STAFF CONCERNED WILL EXERCISE THEIR DISCRETION ACCORDING TO THE PREVAILING SOCIAL RATHER THAN MEDICAL INDICATIONS. SHOULD THE PARENTS REFUSE ΤΟ GRANT CONSENT FOR THE ADMISSION, ASSISTANCE WILL BE SOUGHT FROM THE SOCIAL, WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO INVOKE RELEVANT PROVISIONS UNDER THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILE ORDINANCE

APART FROM MEDICAL TREATMENT, COUNSELLING AND GUIDANCE BY MEDICAL STAFF WILL BE PROVIDED ΤΟ MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL DANGER AND DAMAGE TO THE CHILD'S PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

TO

SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES VARIOUS SUPPORT SERVICES YOUNG PEOPLE AND TO FAMILIES. THERE ARE HOTLINES. HOTLINE SERVICES, MANNED BY PROFESSIONAL WORKERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, RENDERS IMMEDIATE COUNSELLING SERVICE OVER THE PHONE AND ANSWERS ENQUIRIES ON WELFARE SERVICES FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IMMEDIATE OUTREACHING SERVICE AND CRISIS INTERVENTION ARE PROVIDED BY SOCIAL WORKERS FROM FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES OR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE UNITS. OTHER HOTLINE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.

CASEWORKERS OF THE 30 FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES HELP YOUNG PEOPLE TO COPE WITH PROBLEMS AND PROVIDE COUNSELLING TO PERSONS UNDER STRESS OR WITH SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. COUNSELLING BY THE DEPARTMENT'S CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO NEED IT.

SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDE COUNSELLING AND GUIDANCE ΤΟ STUDENTS WITH PERSONAL DIFFICULTIES AND FAMILY PROBLEMS. GROUP DISCUSSIONS, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND TALKS ARE ORGANIZED FOR STUDENTS ΤΟ PROMOTE SELF-AWARENESS AND TO HELP THEM COPE WITH STRESS AND PROBLEMS. WE ARE EXPANDING IN ALL THESE AREAS IN ACCORDANCE OUR PLAN.

WITH

/FURTHERMORE, FAMILY