XN000022-1994-03-23 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1994

THE

AT

ABLE TO PLACE THEIR HE SAID

DEPARTMENT WOULD THEN BE ADVERTISEMENTS WITH ANY OF THE NEWSPAPERS OR MAGAZINES ON THE LIST FIXED PRICES.

BELIEVED

THAT THIS

METHOD

SHOULD RESULT

HE

IN GREATER FLEXIBILITY AND EFFICIENCY IN THE PUBLICATION OF GOVERNMENT RECRUITMENT ADVERTISING.

HELP FOR JUVENILE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE

*

THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICE UNIT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND JUVENILES WHO ARE VICTIMS OF ABUSE INCLUDING SEXUAL ABUSE, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH. AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ZACHARY WONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MRS WONG SAID INTENSIVE COUNSELLING SERVICES WERE PROVIDED BY EXPERIENCED SOCIAL WORKERS AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS TO HELP VICTIMS RELIEVE THEIR PAIN AND COPE WITH THEIR EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS.

"DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES, SOCIAL WORKERS ALSO OFFER ASSISTANCE AND OTHER SUPPORTING SERVICES SUCH AS COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING AND SCHOOL PLACEMENT," SHE SAID.

"IF THE VICTIMS ARE CONSIDERED UNSUITABLE TO STAY IN THEIR OLD HOME,

ARRANGEMENT WILL BE MADE FOR THEM TO STAY IN CHILDREN'S HOMES, FOSTER HOMES OR SMALL GROUP HOMES."

ALL THESE SERVICES AIM TO HELP THE VICTIMS RECOVER FROM THE TRAUMA AND START A NEW LIFE IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

AND HAD

ON LEGISLATION, MRS WONG SAID THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN JUVENILES ORDINANCE, WHICH CAME INTO EFFECT ON NOVEMBER 1, 1993, GREATLY ENHANCED PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN AND JUVENILES AND SAFEGUARDED THEIR RIGHTS AND WELFARE.

THE ORDINANCE HAS WIDENED THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A CHILD OR A JUVENILE IS CONSIDERED TO BE IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION TO ENCOMPASS PHYSICAL ABUSE, PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE AS WELL AS NEGLECT.

IT ALSO PROVIDES A NEW PROCEDURE WHEREBY A NOTICE CAN BE SERVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE TO REQUIRE A PARENT/GUARDIAN TO TAKE THE CHILD FOR ASSESSMENT BY A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER, AN APPROVED SOCIAL WORKER OR AN APPROVED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

IN

ADDITION, THE ORDINANCE HAS SHORTENED THE TIME LIMIT FROM EIGHT DAYS TO 48 HOURS IN WHICH A CHILD IS REQUIRED ΤΟ BE BROUGHT TO BEFORE COURT FOR A CARE AND PROTECTION ORDER AFTER HIS/HER REMOVAL A PLACE OF REFUGE.

QUOTING POLICE STATISTICS, MRS WONG SAID THE NUMBERS OF SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING CHILDREN AND JUVENILES AS VICTIMS IN 1991, 1992 AND 1993 WERE 796, 836 AND 753 RESPECTIVELY.

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