Law guiding family policies kept unchanged

IAS department head Au Chi Keung

The Social Services Committee recognized the necessity to further promote the principles outlined in the regulation framing family-related policies instead of the need to update it, as previously urged for by some organizations and lawmakers.
The law, which was introduced in 1994, stipulates the basis for family-oriented policymaking. However, it became controversial in recent years as it was regarded as obsolete and unresponsive to the current landscape, amid widespread calls for it to be improved.
Half a year ago, another concern group composed of representatives from government agencies and civil groups came together to review the provisions and possible loopholes.
However, after the committee’s third plenary meeting yesterday afternoon, Au Chi Keung, an official who heads the Social Welfare Bureau’s Family and Community Service Department, told media that the law would remain unaltered after deliberation.
“If we figure the principles and spirit in the law are not commensurate with current situations, then revision is necessary,” said the department head, hinting that the provision was still up to date.
In addition, Au said that it was more vital to promote the meaning behind what he described as a constitutional law akin to the Basic Law to the public.
Before the anti-domestic violence act passes into law – most likely next year – the official stressed that their precaution efforts to prevent violence and crisis in families have been ongoing.
The authorities’ third-year blueprint, whose framework was created as early as 2011 after a study carried out by a Hong Kong university, has been in operation since last year. It offers three major scales based on which social workers respond to family issues and violence accordingly.
“Although no obvious violent behavior occurs in a family, if there are potentials identified,” detailed Au, “our service strategies [will] serve to prevent violence at the first level.”
Furthermore, the official also said that citizens could seek help from the social authorities via a hotline “as long as he or she felt potentially threatened.” The authorities would then decide if immediate deployment of their social workers is necessary.
In another scenario, under a cooperation mechanism with the police, their social workers would automatically be alerted and respond immediately if the police were called to cases involving family conflicts.
If the case was found to be life-threatening, the authorities would reach out to the victim irrespective of the latter’s will, Au said.
From the start of the year up until now, the authorities have recorded a total of 175 assistance-seeking cases, close to 100 of which required immediate contact with victims.