XN000022-1993-10-27 — Page 40

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1993

MR LEUNG ALSO NOTED THAT THE EMPLOYEES RETRAINING FUND HAD BALANCE OF ABOUT $433 MILLION AS AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.

GIVEN THE HEALTHY BALANCE OF THE FUND, HE SAID, NO FUNDS WILL BE REQUIRED.

A

ADDITIONAL

0

SERVICES AVAILABLE TO BATTERED SPOUSES

* *

A RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING MEDICAL, COUNSELLING, FINANCIAL AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE, OFFERED TO VICTIMS OF SPOUSE BATTERING ARE AVAILABLE TO BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LAU WONG-FAT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MRS WONG SAID THESE SERVICES WERE OFFERED AT FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT (SWD) NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (NGOS).

AND

ACCORDING TO POLICE STATISTICS, THERE WERE 178, 181 AND 173 SPOUSE BATTERING CASES IN 1991, LAST YEAR AND THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR RESPECTIVELY.

OF THESE, 30 CASES IN 1991, 31 CASES LAST YEAR AND 28 CASES THIS YEAR WERE CASES IN WHICH MEN WERE THE VICTIMS.

SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT 609 CASES OF SPOUSE BATTERING WERE HANDLED BY THE SWD IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, OF WHICH ONLY 18 CASES WERE CASES IN WHICH THE VICTIMS WERE MEN.

"THE PERCENTAGE IS MUCH SMALLER THAN THAT REPORTED ΤΟ THE POLICE, INDICATING THAT BATTERED MEN ARE LESS READY TO BRING OUT THE PROBLEM AND SEEK ASSISTANCE," MRS WONG SAID.

ON ASSISTANCE OFFERED TO BATTERED SPOUSES, THERE ARE AT PRESENT 30 FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES RUN BY THE SWD AND 23 RUN BY NGOS.

COUNSELLING AND ADVICE ARE RENDERED TO HELP THEM COPE WITH STRESS AND EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS.

THESE CENTRES ALSO OFFER HELP IN ARRANGING TEMPORARY SHELTER, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, LEGAL ADVICE AND CHILDCARE ARRANGEMENTS.

A HOTLINE SERVICE IS AVAILABLE FOR PERSONS WHO REQUIRE IMMEDIATE COUNSELLING AND ADVICE ON FAMILY PROBLEMS.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED OF SHELTER, THERE ARE NINE SHELTERS AND HOSTELS FOR SINGLE PERSONS RUN BY NGOS WITH CAPACITY OF 296 PLACES.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME OR FROM ONE OF THE CHARITABLE FUNDS MAY BE FOR BATTERED SPOUSES WHO ARE IN FINANCIAL NEED.

TEMPORARY A TOTAL

SECURITY ARRANGED

CONDITIONAL TENANCY IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES CAN ARRANGED UNDER THE COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING CATEGORY SPOUSES WHO MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.

ALSO

BE

FOR

BATTERED

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