Government and Policy

HK to allocate 5m HKD for family violence victims

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-30 19:21

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's Social Welfare Department said Tuesday that it will allocate an annual subvention of 5 million Hong Kong dollars to Po Leung Kuk to operate a support program for victims of family violence, particularly for those undergoing judicial proceedings.

Services will include providing sources of information on civil and criminal proceedings, providing emotional support, accompanying vulnerable victims or witnesses to make a statement at the police station or go through the legal proceedings, guidance and training to victims on basic skills in personal care, training and development of volunteers and so on.

Director of Social Welfare Department Patrick Nip said the new program will provide comprehensive support services for victims of spouse battering and child abuse, particularly those undergoing judicial proceedings, to enhance protection, ease their fear and feelings of helplessness, and help them return to normal life as early as possible.

The department is working with the Po Leung Kuk in planning the service delivery mode in detail. The new initiative is due to begin in June.

Nip said in 2010-2011, the total provision earmarked for services in relation to family and child welfare, including those for victims of domestic violence and families in need, is about 1.792 billion HK dollars, up 4.5 percent year-on-year.

Of all the domestic violence cases, "battered spouse" remained the most significant category, Nip said. The total number of newly reported "battered spouse" cases fell 30 percent to 4,807 last year, compared with 6,843 cases in 2008, while newly reported "child abuse" cases rose to 993, up more than 12 percent from 882 in 2008.