XN000022-1994-01-10 — Page 14

13

MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1994

THE SECOND RELATES TO REPUTATION, AND HERE RESPONSIBILITY RESTS PRIMARILY WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

BUYERS AND COMPETITORS TEND TO REGARD GOODS SOURCED THROUGH HONG KONG AS BEING THE WORK OF HONG KONG ENTREPRENEURS.

ANYTHING THAT UNDERMINES THE REPUTATION OF LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS WILL BE SEIZED ON BY PROTECTIONISTS TO CONVINCE GOVERNMENTS THAT THERE IS UNFAIR COMPETITION FROM WHICH THEY DESERVE SOME FORM OF PROTECTION.

IT IS THEREFORE ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT THAT HONG KONG'S ENTREPRENEURS WHO EXTEND THEIR BASE OF OPERATION OFF-SHORE DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN то PRESERVE THE REPUTATION FOR QUALITY SO PAINFULLY BUILT UP FOR HONG KONG, MR MILLER SAID,

0

SERVICES TO PROTECT CHILDREN

IS

SEEKING PROPER HELP TO MAINTAIN A SECURE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT AN IMPORTANT ROLE OF RESPONSIBLE PARENTS, CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER (FAMILY AND CHILD WELFARE), MRS KATHERINE SHIN, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ZONTA CLUB OF VICTORIA, MRS SHIN SAID THE WORKING GROUP ON CHILD ABUSE, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT (SWD) AND OTHER CONCERNED PARTIES WERE WORKING HARD TO IMPROVE THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN.

MRS SHIN STRESSED THAT THE PUBLIC WERE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE NOT FOR PUNISHING THOSE ABUSERS BUT TO IDENTIFY THOSE WHO WERE IN NEED OF HELP.

"WHILE OFFERING PROTECTION TO CHILDREN, WE ALSO HELP THEIR PARENTS OVERCOME THEIR PROBLEMS AND STRENGTHEN THEIR FAMILY.

"WITH THE SUPPORT OFFERED, WE BELIEVE THAT EVEN THE MOST TROUBLED FAMILIES CAN IMPROVE.

HOWEVER, MRS SHIN WAS QUICK TO ADD THAT THEIR SERVICE AIMED TO SUPPLEMENT BUT NOT TO SUBSTITUTE FAMILY FUNCTIONING.

THE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY WORKING GROUP ON CHILD ABUSE WAS SET IN 1983 AND RECONVENED IN 1984, 1985, 1988 AND 1993 TO ADVISE GOVERNMENT ON MEASURES TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE.

UP

THE

MRS SHIN SAID THIS WORKING GROUP WAS AN ADVISORY BODY WITH THE CONCERNED PROFESSIONALS HELP IN CARRYING OUT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS.

RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED MULTI-DISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION, PUBLICITY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMMES, PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING CHILD ABUSE, THE STATISTICS AND THE CHILD PROTECTION REGISTRY, LEGAL PROVISIONS, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, AND SO ON.

/UNDER THE