Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ3: Handling of family dispute cases
Following is a question by the Hon Fernando Cheung and a reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (July 5):
Question:
Early last month, an old lady was allegedly killed by her husband. It was
reported that the Social Welfare Department (SWD) had been handling the case of
this couple since 2000, and that the victim had turned to the Police for
assistance a few times. In connection with the handling of this case by various
government departments, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether SWD staff had taken active intervention measures in the past six
years, such as proposing to the victim that she moved to another public rental
housing unit under the conditional tenancy scheme, and of the date on which SWD
staff last contacted the couple;
(b) of the number of times the Police received reports from the victim, and how
the Police handled the case each time; and
(c) whether SWD staff had recommended to the Housing Department (HD) that the
victim be granted compassionate rehousing so that she could live away from her
husband, and the criteria adopted by SWD for deciding whether or not to make the
recommendation; the date on which HD staff first contacted the couple about
splitting their household, how HD handled the splitting application, and whether
HD will review the relevant policy?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) Starting from April 2000, social workers of the Social Welfare Department (SWD)
had been providing the victim and her family with counselling service, which
included suggesting the victim to receive compassionate rehousing. As the case
is still under police investigation, the Government will not make further
comments on the case at this stage for fear that it will pervert the course of
criminal investigation or prosecution.
Generally speaking, members of the public with marriage problems or conflicts
may approach any one of the Integrated Family Services Centres (IFSCs) located
across the territory to seek assistance from the professional social workers.
The social workers will, in light of the actual circumstances, fully assess the
welfare need of help-seekers and provide them with appropriate services to help
address their personal and family problems. A range of services such as family
life education, consultative and outreaching services, various support groups
and counselling services will be offered to enhance their skills in managing
conflicts and stress while encouraging them to explore means to deal with the
troubled relationships with their spouse or family members. In addition, the
social workers will, based on the need of individual cases and clients' wish,
refer them to other community support services, financial or housing assistance
and conduct risk assessments where appropriate. In handling such cases, the
attitude of the adult clients and their family members as well as their
willingness to take the advice of the social workers are crucial in determining
to the effectiveness of the services.
(b) As the case is still under police investigation, the Government will make no
further comments on this case at this stage for fear that it will pervert the
course of criminal investigation or prosecution.
In general, when handling domestic violence cases, the main duties of the police
officers are to protect the victims and their children from harm and carry out
investigations into any possible offences committed. In addition, they will
refer the victims and the suspects to relevant government departments and
non-governmental organisations for assistance. Since December 2004, the Police
and the SWD have adopted a new acknowledgement system to strengthen
communication between frontline officers of the Police and the SWD during the
case referral process.
(c) As mentioned in (a) above, the social workers of the SWD had suggested the
victim to receive compassionate rehousing.
Compassionate rehousing is a form of housing assistance which aims at providing
assistance to individuals and families who have genuine and imminent housing
problems which cannot be addressed by themselves. The SWD will make a
recommendation to the Housing Department (HD) on the allocation of public rental
flats to qualified individuals or families. The social workers responsible for
screening the applications will gather in-depth information on the applicants'
family background and financial condition and verify relevant information and
documents before deciding on their eligibility.
In this particular case, upon the SWD's referral, the HD had met with the victim
and the tenancy holder on two occasions over the past four years. Yet the HD was
unable to make any household splitting arrangement as both of them refused to
move out of their housing unit. The SWD continued to follow up on the case. In a
routine home visit by the HD in recent months, both the victim and the tenancy
holder did not enquire about, or request for, household splitting.
The HD has long considered it of paramount importance to take a compassionate
approach in addressing the needs of the tenants in the light of their actual
circumstances and will promptly arrange household splitting for tenants with
genuine need, having regard to the recommendation and assessment of the SWD. The
HD will adhere to its existing policy in dealing with splitting applications
from public housing tenants. It has also reminded its frontline officers to
raise their alertness and maintain close liaison with the SWD when handling
family disputes.
Ends/Wednesday, July 5, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:58
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