The Briefing Session on Multi-Professional Protocol in Handling Elder Abuse Case has been successfully held at the Lady Trench Training Centre of the Social Welfare Department on 18th December 2002. More than 380 participants from various professional sectors attended. In the audience there were more than 10 people from the Hong Kong Police Force, over 50 medical care professionals from the Hospital Authority, Department of Health and elderly homes, managing staff and social workers from the social service field, officials from the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, representatives from the Guardianship Board and Housing Department, and over 200 frontline workers from the social welfare sector. The variety of attendees in the audience reflected that different sectors bore a common concern on the issue of elder abuse.

The Briefing Session began with the opening remarks given by Mr Fung Pak Yan, the Assistant Director of Social Welfare (Family and Child Welfare) and the Chairman of the Working Group on Elder Abuse. Followed by the staff of the Project reported the work progress and the major findings of the Research. An outline of the content and usage of the Multi-professional Protocol in Handling Elder Abuse Case and Elder Protection Registry were presented.

In order to explore the effectiveness and the feasibility of the handling procedures and the practicality of the multi-professional cooperation depicted in the Protocol and the Registry, the Pilot Scheme to test run the two said tools were also promoted in the Briefing Session. The Pilot Scheme would be launched in Tsuen Wan, Kwai Ching and Shamshuipo throughout January to June 2003. The Hospital Authority, Hong Kong Police Force and the Family Service Centres of the Social Welfare Department in the mentioned districts have consented to join the Pilot Scheme. We cordially invite all the related service units or departments located in the three districts to participate. Let us join hand in establishing a forceful foundation to combat the elder abuse in Hong Kong.

For further details of the Briefing Session and the Pilot Scheme, please visit the website of Hong Kong Christian Service.