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The Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (November 30) launched a new set of TV and radio Announcements in the Public Interest (APIs) to enhance public awareness, especially among separated or divorced parents, on the importance of continuing parental responsibility after separation or divorce.
Over the past decade, Hong Kong has experienced a rising divorce rate. The number of divorces granted rose from 6,295 in 1991 to 22,271 in 2013. With the surge of figures, it is apparent that more families have been affected and hence more parents and children have to cope with the changes and impacts brought about by divorce and separation.
A spokesman for the SWD said, "Marriage may end but parenthood goes on. For the best interests of the children, the parents' responsibility should not end even if they are separated or divorced. The newly launched TV and radio APIs aim to remind the public, especially separated or divorced parents, that if both parents can continue co-operating and actively participating in the upbringing of their children, it will be beneficial to the children's development and the adverse impact of parental separation or divorce will be lessened."
The spokesman noted that the Government is conducting a public consultation with a view to introducing the "parental responsibility model" through legislation in order to carry forward the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission on Child Custody and Access.
As the concept of parental responsibility represents a significant change in the mindset of parents from focusing on parental rights to parental responsibility, the SWD has been making efforts on the publicity and education front to promote the concept in recent years. A territory-wide publicity campaign, "Marriage may end but parenthood goes on", has been held since 2013. It has included the production of a thematic poster and leaflets in 2013, an educational video in 2014 and a set of five booklets this year for the reference of separated and divorced parents and children.
The spokesman said that the broadcast of the new TV and radio APIs, together with the rolling out of a thematic webpage (www.swd.gov.hk/coparenting) today to assist separated or divorced parents and concerned parties to obtain relevant information on continuing parental responsibility, marks a further step to deepen public understanding of the concept of parental responsibility.
The new TV API will be broadcast on local stations in separate Cantonese and English versions. It can also be viewed at the SWD's webpage (www.swd.gov.hk) and the Information Services Department's YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/isdgovhk). The radio API in different language versions (Cantonese, Putonghua and English) will also be broadcast from today.
To maximise the publicity impact, a poster echoing the theme will also be displayed at Mass Transit Railway stations and public bus shelters throughout Hong Kong.
For more information on co-parenting and support services provided by the SWD, people may call the department's hotline 2343 2255 or visit its homepage (www.swd.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, November 30, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:02
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