Review Panel on Family Services in Tin Shui Wai

The Social Welfare Department announced today (April 20) the establishment of a Review Panel on family services in Tin Shui Wai, its terms of reference and its membership in the light of the Tin Shui Wai family tragedy.

The Review Panel is set up with a view to looking into the family services in Tin Shui Wai, identify any issues and see what improvements can be made.

The terms of reference of the Panel are to review the provision and service delivery process of family services in Tin Shui Wai in the light of the case of Mr Li and Ms Kim and their family; to recommend to Director of Social Welfare measures to strengthen the effectiveness, coordination and other aspects concerning service provision and delivery of family services in Tin Shui Wai; and to recommend to Director of Social Welfare any other issues concerning the handling of family cases.

The Department also announced the appointment of Mr Aaron Wan Chi-keung as Chairman of the Review Panel. Mr Wan is a member of the Social Welfare Advisory Committee and has a long association with the welfare sector. Members include Professor Nelson Chow and Dr Sandra Tsang Kit-man who are respectively experts in the fields of social work and clinical psychology.

The Panel will review generally the existing provision and delivery of services for families in the area and identify areas for improvement taking into account how the case of Mr Li and Ms Kim and their family was handled in terms of procedures and coordination. The Panel will firstly meet with Government departments and other agencies involved. The Panel will at a later stage meet with interested parties who wish to make their views known to the Panel. In considering what recommendations to put forward, reference will also be drawn from other countries concerning helping these families as and when necessary so as to strengthen the effectiveness in the service provision and delivery.

The Panel will make a report to the Director of Social Welfare in about six months.

Ends

Tuesday, April 20, 2004