TNAG-1449-FCO40-1953-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 23

- 2

which contain personal information about Madam Wong Yuen-si

and her family that should not be made public for reasons of

professional ethics. However the full reports, including the

confidential annexes, were provided to the UMELCO panel, so

that the Panel would have a complete picture of the case.

4.

The series of events between November 1985, when the

case first came to the Department's notice as a result of a

telephone call on the hot-line, and 8 May 1986, when the

decision was taken to break in to Madam Wong's flat in Kwai

Chung, were described in the Secretary for Health and

Welfare's answer on 14 May and are set out

14 May and are set out in detail in the

reports which have now been tabled. I do not propose to

repeat them today. I should like, however, to highlight

certain salient features which may help to explain the

Department's actions.

5.

The social worker in charge of the case made five

unsuccessful attempts to gain entry to the flat in order to satisfy herself as to the child's condition, and she also

sought the help of neighbours and of the Housing Department

staff in the estate. The UMELCO Panel consider that more

intensive work should have been undertaken prior to the

break-in, but that a shortage of staff and resources prevented

the necessary time from being devoted to the case.

conclusion generally accords with the view taken by the

Director of Social Welfare in her own report. She has

This

1