Press Release

 

 

Speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration

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Following is the speech (English only) delivered by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, at the Symposium on Sexual and Reproductive Health in the New Millennium today (July 20):

Professor Ho, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am greatly honoured to be here this morning to officiate at the Opening Ceremony of the Symposium on Sexual and Reproductive Health in the New Millennium. I would first like to commend the Family Planning Association (FPA) for its dedication and commitment to promoting the health and well being of women and families over the past 50 years. On the occasion of its golden jubilee, I would like to talk a bit about the Association before I move on to the theme of the Symposium.

When the Association started its work 50 years ago, people used to draw an "equal sign" between FPA and birth control services. No doubt, the Association had been the flagship organisation in raising community awareness in family planning and providing reliable birth control and contraceptive advice to couples. I am sure that the theme song promoting "Two is Enough" and the slogan "Be a Mr Able in Family Planning" are still vividly on the minds of many.

But FPA's scope of service has unquestionably gone far beyond that. The Association is always ready to meet new demands and challenges. In addition to offering services devoted mainly to women's health, the Association is now providing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care, pre-marital preparation, youth health care and sex education, addressing the needs of men and boys as well. To meet the special needs of the new arrivals from the mainland of China, the Association has introduced, since 1998, an education and information project to provide them with comprehensive and affordable sex education and contraceptives advice.

The Association has been hugely successful in its family planning work. Over the past three decades, our birth rate has gone down from 19.7 to 7.5 per 1000 population despite an almost 7% growth in the number of women of child-bearing age. In 1971, each woman was expected to bear 3.46 children in her life; by 1999, this figure had dropped to 0.95. Couples are given the information and means to decide freely and responsibly the number of children to have and when to have them. Moreover, women have access to affordable and quality gyneacological health care. And youngsters are able to receive professional and comprehensive sex education.

There are growing concerns, globally as well as locally, over the increase in adolescent sexuality, pregnancy and abortion, the widespread growth in sexually transmissible diseases, including the HIV causing AIDS, and the rising prevalence in male infertility and sexual dysfunction. For example, as at the end of 1999, there were 34.3 million reported cases of HIV infection worldwide, of which 90% are found in developing countries. In Hong Kong, we are fortunate that so far we have identified only 1,399 cases of HIV infection, but we must not be complacent, especially when we have 207 new cases reported in 1999-2000. To address the issues effectively, it is crucial to get men involved and to enhance their health awareness regarding sexuality and reproductive matters.

Equally important is to promote the sense of male responsibility in the family. We must work to confront cultural and traditional values, to educate boys and men to prepare them for a broader fathering role and a more responsible male identity. Some men are ill-prepared for fatherhood because their society discourages them from taking an active role in caring for their children.

I will leave the detailed deliberations to experts and professionals from the World Health Organisation, State Family Planning Commission and other agencies who are taking part in this symposium, but I do wish to highlight one global concern, and that is increasing violence against girls and women. In Hong Kong, there were a total of 1,689 reported cases of battered spouses in 1999-2000, representing an increase of 44% over the preceding year. Such increase in reporting may, of course, be attributable to the victims' heightened awareness of their rights. But I am glad that efforts are being made at both national and international levels to eradicate domestic violence, marital rape and sex crimes.

Last summer, I had the opportunity to talk to groups of battered spouses and representatives of NGOs who had a focus on these problems. Whilst I appreciated the courage of victims to come forward, to seek help, and to work hard to bring their lives back on track, their emotional trauma and the tremendous social pressure they face are by no means easy to overcome.

Another growing challenge we need to meet is teenage pregnancy. We have an increasing number of unwanted pregnancies amongst young women, many barely beyond childhood themselves. It is not difficult to imagine, when children have children, the chance of schooling, jobs, good health is greatly reduced for both the parents and children. This is a serious setback to social progression.

So, what can we do about these problems? On the part of the Government, we have set up an inter-departmental Working Group on Sexual Violence in May this year to map out improved strategies in handling sexual violence cases, providing follow-up services and taking preventive action. To help victims of domestic violence, the Working Group on Battered Spouse has implemented new services for battered spouses including 24-hour admission in three women refuges and provision of temporary relief services. Just a few weeks ago, the Evidence Ordinance has been successfully amended to abolish the corroboration rules, which works to the disadvantages of victims, in sexual offence cases. Another piece of legislation was enacted to empower law enforcement agencies to take intimate and non-intimate samples from suspects to combat serious crimes including sexual offences. We are in the process of establishing a Women's Commission. The priority areas that the Commission is going to tackle in its formative years include protecting women against violence, provision of health services and childcare support. There will be a lot of scope for cooperation between the Commission and the Association to promote the well-being and interest of women in Hong Kong.

And I am very glad to know that Family Planning Association is re-doubling its efforts in encouraging self-discipline and personal responsibilities on the part of young men and women, strengthening sex education in schools, and urging the male population to assume their responsibility in family planning more proactively. This clearly demonstrates the Association's holistic vision and mission in promoting sexual and reproductive health for all.

Government's efforts only forms part of the equation. Support from the community and non-governmental organisations is imperative to make our work easier and more effective. I am sure that the Symposium will build a solid foundation for implementing new ideas in the future and more collaboration between the community, NGOs and the Government. I wish you all a very fruitful discussion.

Thank you.

End/Thursday, July 20, 2000

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