If you are the victim of domestic violence, will you remain quiet? Many Hong Kong families with domestic issues often cover up their problems, needlessly suffering in silence. The Social Welfare Department is expanding its services to ensure help and harmony comes to Hong Kong's families in need, and urges victims to report domestic violence and seek help.

The department's Chief Social Worker (Domestic Violence) Florence Wong recently told news.gov.hk although newly reported battered-spouse cases fell to 3,822 in the first nine months of the year, down 23.2% on the same period last year, the overall number of domestic violence cases is still high.

Domestic affair: Domestic violence victims seek help from the Social Welfare Department's Family & Child Protective Services Units, while Chief Social Worker (Domestic Violence) Florence Wong says social awareness of the problem is growing.

Help at hand

There are 11 district based Family & Child Protective Services Units. Frontline services have been strengthened this fiscal year, increasing resources for 12 additional social workers and two clinical psychologists.

The department also seeks to provide more support services through non-governmental organisations, including a new refuge centre for women which will open soon with 40 places.

The improvements are proving successful. 'Mrs Chan' and 'Ms Lo' both suffered at the hands of their violent husbands, going through feelings of pain and helplessness before being referred to the unit. They are living a different life now.

Married in 1998, Mrs Chan quit her job in 2002 as her husband wanted children. However, her physical condition made it difficult for her to get pregnant and their relationship deteriorated.

There were constant arguments at home which eventually became violent. However, she did not report the issue to police.

One day in 2007 she was hit on the head and told the doctor what happened. She was referred to the medical social worker at the hospital she attended, and then the unit.

Career guidance

Recalling the first time she met the unit's social worker Evelyn Sit, Mrs Chan said: "I felt so devastated and helpless. My parents wanted me to get divorced. I did not want to stay at home. But what could I do? I had not worked for many years. Who would hire me? How could I live on my own if I did not have a job? I even thought about killing myself."

Ms Sit helped her find a job through the Labour Department. However, Mrs Chan refused to let her husband know she had sought help, fearing it would provoke his anger. This meant their problems remained unsolved.

Her worst fear came in September last year when the fertility problem led to another fight and her husband threw a glass container, injuring her. She called Police and he was arrested. She was arranged temporary placement at a refuge centre for women.

"I had been under great pressure for 10 years because I could not get pregnant. I wanted a divorce at that moment. Ms Sit put me in the refuge centre and wanted me to think about my next step," Mrs Chan said.

Marriage counselling

With Mrs Chan feeling ambivalent about a divorce, Ms Sit arranged for the husband to participate in the Batterer Intervention Programme. Mrs Chan attended empowerment groups for battered wives.

"I learned to reflect on myself and see what I had done wrong, instead of putting the blame on my husband. There were other women whose situations were worse than mine. They were striving hard to improve, so why couldn't I?"

She decided to give the relationship another chance. Her husband learned to express himself better and control his temper. With counselling from Ms Sit, the couple's relationship has improved and Mrs Chan eventually got pregnant.

"We are really grateful to Ms Sit. I can feel a difference with the support and help. It was not easy but at least we can sustain the family," she said.

More services

Apart from counselling, the unit provides other services to victims of spouse battering.

Ms Lo, 60, had been married 38 years. She came to Hong Kong from the Mainland to be with her husband in 1996. Being illiterate, jobless and with few friends, she relied on her husband for everything.

Last year she learned he was having an affair with a neighbour. Arguments became a daily event. When he hit her for the seventh time, Ms Lo called Police in August this year. The Police arranged for her admission to a refuge centre and the unit's social worker Kelly Chan followed up her case.

"I relied on my husband all my life and did not even think about saving money. I did not even know how to get to town from our home in Ma On Shan. Both my children are grown up and living on the Mainland. If it was not for the social worker, I do not know where I would be now," she said.

With help from Ms Chan, Ms Lo received food from the short-term food assistance service projects and applied for legal assistance to file for divorce.

She failed to find a job due to her age and a back injury, so Ms Chan helped her apply for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance and compassionate rehousing.

Hard work by the department and its staff have helped Mrs Chan and Ms Lo, and countless other Hong Kong people, to start a new life.