TNAG-1449-FCO40-1953-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 45

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Translation

DRAFT SPEECH BY HON MRS ROSANNA TAM LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 23.7.86

Domestic Violence Bill 1986

According to statistics prepared by the authorities concerned, the incidence of domestic violence in Hong Kong is

Since October 1984, when the getting more and more serious.

Under the

Social Welfare Department first started to prepare statistics on this subject, a total of over 1,300 cases has been recorded so far. What deserves special attention is that women are the victims of domestic violence in most cases. complicated procedures of existing legal arrangements, these victimized women often fail to obtain timely assistance and protection, so that they have to be subjected to domestic violence continually.

The Domestic Violence Bill 1986 tabled for its 3rd Reading by this Council today could undoubtedly tackle the

This is above-mentioned problem in a successful manner. because it proposes to allow victims of domestic violence to apply to the courts for an injunction order without applying for divorce, and so it serves to provide timely and appropriate protection. I strongly support the spirit behind this Bill. But since this Bill basically aims to provide instant assistance, emphasis must be laid on efficiency and effectiveness once it is implemented.

The goal is to ensure

that appropriate assistance and protection could be provided in the swiftest manner.

In terms of efficiency, I am concerned about two aspects of the Bill. First, legal aid is very important to those victims who have financial difficulties.

It is learnt

that in handling cases of domestic violence, senior officers of the Legal Aid Department will be responsible for examining the

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