ACW Lee, KT So

Abstract

Yuen Long District, the most northwestern part of Hong Kong, is remarkable with the highest incidence of child maltreatment and spouse abuse compared with the rest of the Special Administrative Region. Following a tragic and widely publicised case of domestic violence in the district, the Director of Social Welfare appointed a 3-membered review panel to look into the provision of family services in that region. The incident has also stimulated much discussion among the public and also the professionals. This article presents the views of the paediatricians working in the region. Changes in the existing deployment of human resources, fostering of expertise and training, management of organisation and staff anxiety, and independent assessment of child welfare are needed. However, the situation of the social problems encountered in this region is not unique, and territory-wide improvement objectives are essential.

元朗區位於香港新界的西北部，相對於香港其他地區，元朗區的兒童被疏忽照顧及配偶被虐個案皆明顯較高。由於該區的一項悲慘的家庭暴力事件被廣泛報導，社會褔利署署長特別委派一個 3 人小組，對該區的社會服務進行深入的探討。該事件亦同時觸發了公眾和專業人士的討論。本文表述了在該區服務的兒科工作者之意見，認為改善現時的失業情況、加強專業培訓、公司及員工憂慮的處理、和單獨評估兒童福利等都是必要的。但是這種社會問題不是只出現於元朗，全香港的整體改善才是至關重要的。