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In response to the family tragedy that recently occurred in Lok Fu, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) spokesman made the following statement today (November 13):
The SWD has deep regret and concern about this family tragedy. In handling family violence cases, social workers of SWD or non-governmental organisations make the utmost effort to provide assistance and advice to the clients to work out possible solutions to their problems. In the problem solving process, the clients' cooperation and readiness to accept advice is very important.
In handling cases involving divorce, social workers will follow through the clients' welfare needs such as children's custody and care, financial and housing problems, etc, and provide preventive, supportive and specialised services. Cases will not be closed until the clients' situation becomes stable and no other welfare needs are required.
Housing assistance
In handling families (including couples who have divorced or are still on divorce proceedings) with housing problems, social workers will, based on professional judgment and on a case-by-case assessment basis, provide counselling and appropriate advice to concerned parties and make necessary arrangements according to individual needs and situations. Possible options include arrangement for short-term financial assistance to meet the expenses for rental and removal; referral for short-term accommodation in urban hostels for single people, etc.
For individuals or families having genuine and imminent housing problems which cannot be solved by themselves, social workers will recommend eligible cases to the Housing Department for compassionate rehousing or conditional tenancy under compassionate rehousing.
Under compassionate rehousing, the conditional tenancy scheme can help those people, including victims of domestic violence, who are going through divorce proceedings and assuming the custody of the children, while awaiting the court decision on their divorce applications.
Starting from November 2001, the conditional tenancy scheme has been extended to cover victims of domestic violence during divorce proceedings who have no offspring or no dependent children. For applicants who have joint ownership of private residential property or a flat under the Home Ownership Scheme with their spouses, social workers can also recommend needy cases to the Housing Department for conditional tenancy while waiting for a court order for the disposal of their entitlement in the property.
Social work manpower
In recent years, family problems have become more complex. The number of cases involving domestic violence has been on the rise. The SWD is well aware of the stress faced by frontline staff. Hence, in the past few years, the SWD has allocated and deployed additional resources to alleviate the work pressure of social workers in Family and Child Protective Services Units and Integrated Family Service Centres.
During the intervention process, turnover of social workers is inevitable. In such a situation, the social worker should prepare a detailed case study and documents to ensure the receiving social worker understands the case and areas for follow-up. The officer-in-charge of the unit will also make necessary arrangements depending on the case to facilitate a smooth case transfer. There should not be any problem in handing over. Staff wastage in the SWD in recent years has been stable and there is no such problem as "upsurge of resignation". Also, a recruitment exercise for social workers is under way.
Implementation of Recommendations of the Review Panel on Family Services in Tin Shui Wai
After the Tin Shui Wai incident in 2004, the "Review Panel on Family Services in Tin Shui Wai" appointed by the SWD made recommendations on improving the handling of family cases. The SWD accepted all the recommendations and they have gradually been implemented. In its progress report issued in August 2005, the Review Panel noted that most of the recommendations in the Report had been followed up and many of them were considered prompt and effective in bringing improvement to support families in the community and tackle the problem of domestic violence and child abuse.
Way forward
In the coming year, the SWD will further strengthen its specialised services and support to the victims of domestic violence, including strengthening its 24-hour hotline service, setting up a new crisis intervention and support centre for victims of domestic and sexual violence, strengthening the support in Family and Child Protective Services Units and Integrated Family Service Centres, providing additional resources for refuge centres for women through strengthening social work support outside normal office hours, enhancing volunteer training and development of mutual help and aftercare services for the victims and enhancing clinical psychological support, etc.
At the same time, the Government has reviewed the Domestic Violence Ordinance and made a series of proposed amendments with a view to strengthening the prevention of family violence and protection of such victims. We are now proceeding with the final consultation on the proposed amendments and aim to introduce to the Legislative Council an amendment bill to the ordinance within this legislative year.
The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau will convene a meeting to further strengthen interdepartmental coordination. We will continue to do our utmost to seek effective measures to provide appropriate services and support for the victims of family violence and families in need.
Never use violence to solve problems
When people are faced with relationship problems, especially a breakdown of marriage, their feelings and emotions include sadness, sense of loss and anger. These are well understood. It is important that they should adopt an "accepting" and "forgiving" attitude to deal with their difficult situations. Making reference to professional advice, they should use non-violence means to resolve their problems.
We encourage people facing family problems to seek help when necessary. People from all walks of life can also make an effort to show concern to people around them so that people in difficulty would be more ready to accept assistance.
Ends/Monday, November 13, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:06
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