TNAG-1449-FCO40-1953-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 41

Sir

UMELCO

DRAFT SPEECH BY HON HUI YIN FAT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 23.7.86

Domestic Violence Bill 1986

:

The call for redress to battered wives, which has

been mounting in the past few years, has finally been answered

in the Domestic Violence Bill. In addressing the problem of

domestic violence, the new legislation places family and human

relationship higher up the priority list of Hong Kong's many

and varied social problems awaiting much needed attention and

provisions. This new ordinance in essence represents a turning

point that may hopefully lead to attitude and behavioural changes among members of the public.

While we social workers fully agree with the bill

that provides molested spouse with speedy relief through an

injunction order issued by District or High Courts, we

emphasize the importance of counselling service for parties undergoing a traumatic experience. Casework counselling not only heals the wound during the cooling off period, but is also

conducive to reaching a happy and satisfactory solution for all

concerned. In view of the financial and administrative

difficulties envisaged in providing a mandatory service,

follow-up counselling work, which many voluntary agencies are

ready to offer, should be clearly made known to those who may

opt to seek this service voluntarily.

Perhaps one minor shortfall of the bill is the lack

of provision for elderly persons in domestic violence cases.

While it is understood that coverage would be given to abused

elderly people in a separate legislation being drafted, we urge

that the law drafting procedures be speeded up in view of the

growing number of elderly abuse cases.

+

UMELCO