Women's Rights

More Migrant Women Abused by Husbands

Harmony House, which provides sheltering service for abused women found thatmore than 80 per cent of their residents last year were new immigrants fromChina. Among the 164 mothers with 233 children, more than 105 were migrants fromthe mainland. The shelter's executive director, Cheung Pui-lai, said domesticviolence should be taken more seriously instead of just relying on family lifeeducation programs.

Lenient Punishment for Wife Abuse

Statistics showed that from April and September 1997, there are 759wife abuse cases in Hong Kong. Among the 344 cases classified as "Familyviolence", only 33 were found guilty. Half of the 33 were fined and only4 were imprisoned. The Harmony House, which have been helping the abusedwomen, critised the punishment is too lenient. One example cited is that, in awife battered case, even one of the wife's ribs was broken by her husband, hewas just punished by the court in the form of fine payment.

Women Labour

A research done by the Democratic Party showed that women are seriously sufferedfrom the recent economic sluggish. 40 per cent of the unemployed women out ofthe total 471 were unemployed since the past six months. They were sufferedfrom age discrimination when seeking employment. 40 per cent showed that therewas no wage increase since last year.

Another survey done by the Society for Community Organization highlighted the difficulties faced by new migrant women from China revealedthat 70 per cent of the 100 respondents were unemployed. Of those employed, about 75 per cent said they had to work more than 63 hours a week. Some said their professional qualifications and experience back in China were not recognised.

- April 1998 -