Social_Welfare_Annual_Report_1954-1955 — Page 18

37. Family and especially matrimonial disputes among the Chinese, particularly the poorer classes, have for many years been handled by the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs. Emphasis, as always, is on attempting reconciliation, but when this fails, the Assistants to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs strive to obtain agreement on the extent of maintenance to be given to the wife by the husband and on the custody of the children. Such results as were achieved through conciliation, however, rest on mutual agreement, as the decisions of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs have no legal sanction but once a compromise has been reached, it is usually respected by both parties. If, on the other hand the husband refuses to pay his wife maintenance, or the custody of children is disputed, the case is referred to the magistrates' courts. Under Sections 35 and 36 of the Protection of Women and Juveniles Ordinance, action may be taken to safeguard the welfare of any child or young person in need of care and protection. During 1954/55, 2,205 family cases were dealt with by the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs, but increasing use was made of the Child Welfare Section of the Social Welfare Office to make inquiries in cases involving the custody of young children.

38. The Relief Section of the Social Welfare Office, in trying to assist persons who had attempted suicide, also had to tackle problems of family maladjustments as domestic strife ranked only second to financial difficulties among the causes of attempted suicides (see Appendix XII). Recently the women's section of the Kaifongs or Neighbourhood Welfare Associations began to take part in advising in simple family disputes, the majority of which arose amongst the victims of squatter fires.

39. In assisting families in financial distress, the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society which is subsidized by Govern- ment aimed at meeting the problems of the whole family in as comprehensive a way as possible, and at trying to secure con- structive rehabilitation rather than to be content with the handing out of alms, by encouraging clients to make the best use of their own capabilities in order to achieve the fullest measure of independence. The trained caseworkers at the 4

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