XN000022-1993-08-05 — Page 12

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GIRLS' HOME REPORTS REPUTED

THURSDAY, AUGUST 5,

1993

FOR THE SOCIAL

OF

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES, A SPOKESMAN WELFARE DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) SAID REPORTS ALLEGING THE LACK MEDICAL ATTENTION GIVEN TO GIRLS UNDER REMAND AT

MA TAU WEI GIRLS' HOME AND THAT 90 PER CENT OF THE INMATES HAD VENEREAL DISEASES WERE ABSURD AND UNTRUE.

HE POINTED OUT THAT PRELIMINARY MEDICAL PERFORMED ON THE GIRLS UPON THEIR ADMISSION BY THE THE INSTITUTION.

AT PRESENT MEDICAL OFFICERS OF THE HOSPITAL THE HOME TWICE A WEEK.

EXAMINATION WAS THREE NURSES AT

AUTHORITY VISIT

THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO MADE A REQUEST TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF VISITS IN VIEW OF THE GROWING INTAKE DURING THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

"IT REQUIRED, THE INMATES WILL BE ESCORTED BY POLICE TO RECEIVE TREATMENT AT GOVERNMENT CLINICS AND HOSPITALS, HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT SOME JUDGES HAD ASKED FOR MORE INTENSIVE MEDICAL TESTS TO BE CONDUCTED ON SOME OF THE GIRLS APPEARING IN COURT AFTER THEIR ADMISSION.

'GIRLS WHO ARE FOUND TO BE SUFFERING FROM VENEREAL DISEASES RECEIVE PROPER TREATMENT. THE HOME WILL ALSO CARRY OUT PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AS REQUIRED, HE SAID.

WILL

"

HE ADDED THAT THERE WERE ONLY VERY FEW GIRLS SUFFERING FROM SUCH AND THE ALLEGED FIGURE OF 90 PER CENT WAS NOT ONLY INCORRECT IN ITSELF BUT HAD ALSO CAUSED UNNECESSARY PUBLIC ALARM.

THE

REGARDING THE OVERCROWDED CONDITIONS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID AFTER GIRLS IN THE PROBATION SECTION MOVED TO ANOTHER HOME YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY), THE SITUATION HAD IMPROVED CONSIDERABLY.

"BOTH THE STAFF AND THE GIRLS UNDER REMAND AT MA TAU WEI WELCOME THE MOVE. PREVIOUSLY SIX GIRLS HAD ΤΟ SHARE A ROOM WITH FACILITIES DESIGNED FOR FOUR WHILE THE REMAINING TWO HAD TO MAKE DO WITH MAKE-SHIFT MATTRESS INSTEAD OF REDS,

" HE SAID.

HE ALSO DENIED CHARGES OF UNHYGIENIC CONDITIONS IN THE GIRLS' ROOMS, POINTING OUT THAT THEY WERE UNDER CLOSE CHECK OF VISITING JUSTICES OF PEACE.

+

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSELY MONITORING THE CONDITIONS IN THE HOME AND THE DIRECTORATE STAFF HAD ALSO VISITED THE HOME IN THE PAST FEW DAYS FOR FIRST-HAND INFORMATION DISCUSS WITH STAFF FURTHER MEASURES TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS.

AND

TO

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