XN000022-1993-03-10 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1993

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ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON WIFE ABUSE

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THE FOLLOWING IN THE SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, WHEN WINDING UP THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON WIFE ABUSE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MADAM DEPUTY,

INTRODUCTION

I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR THIS ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON WIFE ABUSE, PARTICULARLY IN THIS WEEK WHEN WE CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMAN'S DAY AND MORE PARTICULARLY WHEN THE DEBATE IS MOVED BY MAN, THE HONOURABLE MOSES CHENG. I AM EQUALLY GRATEFUL TO HEAR THAT WE ARE IN FACT AGAINST CHILD ABUSE AND WE WILL CERTAINLY CONSIDER SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS. I NEED NOT REPEAT THE ARGUMENTS BUT I DO WISH TO MAKE A FEW POINTS AS TO FACTS AND TO SHARE WITH HONOURABLE MEMBERS SOME RELEVANT STATISTICS. ABUSE OF ANY KIND IS A SERIOUS MATTER IN THAT IT ENDANGERS OR IMPAIRS ONE'S PHYSICAL OR MENTAL WELL-BEING. ANY ABUSE CAUSES TREMENDOUS PAIN AND SUFFERING NOT ONLY TO THOSE ABUSED, BUT ALSO TO OTHERS AROUND THEM.

STATISTICS

THERE HAS IN FACT IN RECENT YEARS BEEN A STEADY DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF "BATTERED WIFE" CASES. THE FIGURES KNOWN TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAVE FALLEN FROM 455 IN 1988/89, TO 272 IN 1989/90, 236 IN 1990/91 AND 209 IN 1991/92. THIS DECLINE HAS ALSO BEEN BORNE OUT BY POLICE STATISTICS ON FEMALE VICTIMS WOUNDED OR ASSAULTED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE SPOUSES. THE FIGURE HAS COME DOWN FROM 173 IN 1991 TO 160 IN 1992. I HOPE THIS DOWNWARD TREND CONTINUES.

T NOTE THAT HONOURABLE MEMBERS HAVE FOCUSSED ONLY ON "WIFE" ABUSE. BUT IT IS NOT ONLY WIVES WHO ARE ABUSED OR BATTERED. THERE ARE CERTAIN TRAGIC CHILD ABUSE CASES THE SUBJECT OF WHICH WAS DEBATED IN THIS COUNCIL NOT SO LONG AGO. POLICE STATISTICS OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS INDICATE THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CAN ALSO HAPPEN TO MEN ASSAULTED BY THE IR WIVES, ALTHOUGH THE FIGURE IN THIS RESPECT IS LOWER. THE RATIO OF BATTERED HUSBANDS TO BATTERED WIVES IS 1:5. COULD IT BE THAT MEN AS A GROUP ARE MORE VIOLENT THAN WOMEN? OR COULD IT BE THAT BATTERED MEN ARE TOO ASHAMED TO COME FORWARD?

то

BE THAT AS IT MAY, IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TENDS TO BE A MUCH UNDER-REPORTED CRIME; AND THAT IT CAN HAPPEN CHILDREN, TO MEN, AS WELL AS WOMEN.

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