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Apart from providing support and remedial services, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) sees the need to rebuild or revive the positive life values, family solidarity, mutual support and care in the community.
The Director of Social Welfare, Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, made the remark when speaking at the Kick-off Ceremony of the publicity campaign on "Strengthening Families and Combating Violence" today (December 29).
Mrs Lam said, "the community has, in recent years, deeply experienced the impact of major economic changes evidenced by rising unemployment, job instability and negative equity of property."
She pointed out that all these changes, coupled with the weakening of family solidarity and marriages had resulted an increase in family tragedies, abuse issues, drastic violence and youth problems. The SWD has thus formed a Working Group to step up publicity campaign on "Strengthening Families and Combating Violence".
It is hoped that through the concerted efforts of government departments, non-governmental organisations, professionals from various fields and the assistance by the whole community, members of the public are reminded that family solidarity is the key to combat violence.
To achieve the purposes, the Working Group, with an allocation of $1.9 million has organised a series of territory-wide and district promotional programmes. This includes in search of Resilient Family Ambassador; slogans and posters competitions; production of radio and TV APIs (Announcement in the Public Interest), videos, RoadShow media; radio programmes; extensive display of roadside publicity materials; and "Linking families and districts" events in the 13 respective welfare districts.
During the ceremony, 30 winners of the slogan and poster design competitions were awarded with prizes. A slogan competition under five categories, namely, "strengthening families and combating violence"; "child abuses"; "battered spouse"; "elder abuse" and "sexual violence" was held in September.
A poster design competition inviting the public to submit designs basing on the concept of the respective winning slogans was then held in October. Both competitions were well-received. The adjudicating committee, comprising representatives from the Government, and renowned professionals in the design and advertising fields, selected winners from a number of quality entries.
The winning and distinguished posters will be compiled into a booklet and re-produced as the Campaign's publicity items. The winning posters can be downloaded from SWD's homepage at http://www.info.gov.hk/swd for viewing.
Meanwhile, 13 social welfare districts of the SWD had organised a series of district-based activities with the theme of "Linking families and districts" in the past two months. Programmes included sand sculpture competition, kite flying, essay competition and family games.
Another highlight of the promotional programmes will be in search of Resilient Family Ambassadors. Individuals and families who have come across violent incident or faced predicament will be invited to share their experience.
Apart from the kick-off ceremony, the SWD has also set up an exhibition booth on family life education at the Hong Kong Products Expo at Tamar Site to introduce various social welfare services to the public. Social workers are present to answer enquiries.
Also present at today's ceremony were Assistant Director of Social Welfare (Family and Child Welfare), Mr Fung Pak-yan, who is also the Chairman of the Working Group of the Campaign; Chief Executive Officer of Metro Broadcast, Mr Kam Kwok-leung; and Chief Programme Officer of RoadShow Holdings Ltd., Mr Eric Yeung.
End/Sunday, December 29, 2002
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