XN000022-1993-12-01 — Page 16

A SINGLE PARENT FAMILY

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1993

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PARENT FATHER

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY "SINGLE FARENT FAMILY"? A SINGLE FAMILY IS COMMONLY DEFINED AS "A FAMILY WITH THE MOTHER OR THE BEING WIDOWED, DIVORCED OR SEPARATED AND LIVING WITH CHILD OR CHILDREN AGED UNDER 18. ACCORDING TO CENSUS DATA, THERE WENT 34,538 SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES IN HONG KONG IN 1991 AS COMPARED WITH 36,541 IN 1986. ALTHOUGH THIS NUMBER ONLY ACCOUNTS FOR 2.2% IN 1991 OR 2.5% IN 1986 OF TOTAL NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS IN HONG KONG, SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES DESERVE OUR ATTENTION BECAUSE THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE MORE VULNERABLE IN

WITH PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.

HOWEVER, COPING

WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL THAT WE DO NOT STIGMATIZE SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES. THERE SHOULD BE NO DISCRIMINATION AMONG DIFFERENT TYPES OF FAMILY IN THE PROVISION OF SERVICES. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DESCRIBE SOME OF THE KEY SERVICES AVAILABLE TO SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES.

HOUSING

I AGREE WITH HONOURABLE MEMBERS THAT HOUSING TENDS TO BR A PARENT MAJOR PROBLEM FOR SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES. BUT, BEING A SINGLE FAMILY DOES NOT AND SHOULD NOT BY ITSELF CONSTITUTE A CRITERION FOR PRIORITY TREATMENT IN THE ALLOCATION OF PUBLIC HOUSING FLATS. IT BE UNFAIR TO THOSE APPLICANTS WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A LONG WOULD

THAN TIME AND WHOSE ACCOMMODATION NEEDS MAY BE AS GREAT AS OR NO LESS THOSE OF SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES.

OF SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES IN NEED IMMEDIATE HOUSING ASSISTANCE CAN BE REHOUSED UNDER THE COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING SCHEME ADMINISTERED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.

OF AN

ANNUAL

QUOTA UNDER THE SCHEME, A TOTAL OF 217 PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS WERE ALLOCATED TO SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES IN 1991/92. THE NUMBER INCREASED TO 327 IN 1992/93. SO FAR IN 1993/94, 301 SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES HAVE BEEN REHOUSED UNDER THE SCHEME.

AND

ADJUSTABLE

OUT

FOR SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES WHO HAVE JUST SEPARATED OR DIVORCED WHO CANNOT CONTINUE TO REMAIN UNDER THE MATRIMONIAL HOME, A CONDITIONAL TENANCY PROGRAMME UNDER THE COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED IN JULY 1991 TO ALLOCATE PUBLIC HOUSING FLATS TO MEET THEIR URGENT REHOUSING NEEDS. WHEN THE PROGRAMME WAS REVIEWED EARLIER THIS YEAR, FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE TO PROVIDE BETTER AND QUICKER ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES IN NEED. THESE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE:

-

THE SETTING ASIDE OF AN ADJUSTABLE SUB-QUOTA FOR CONDITIONAL TENANCY:

RAISING THE INCOME ELIGIBILITY LIMIT FOR APPLICANTS;

-

ACCEPTING

RECOMMENDATIONS ON CASES REFERRED BY NON-

GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS; AND

STREAMLINING OF PROCEDURES BETWEEN SOCIAL DEPARTMENT, HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT ENSURE SPEEDY REFERRALS AND PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS.

WELFARE

то

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