I was interested to read the report 'Babies left to carers at risk of abuse' (South China Morning Post, September 28).
Nowadays, many parents entrust their children to the care of friends, neighbours, relatives or child-minders for a variety of reasons. Parents have full responsibility to ensure that their children are cared for by a caring and reliable person.
If there is not alertness to choose suitable carers and to keep close liaison with them to ensure proper care, children can be put at risk of abuse or neglect. Babies are vulnerable because they cannot talk, however children of any age may be reluctant or unable to disclose inappropriate treatment. When damage shows it may be too late, traumatising children.
A study we conducted in 1986 showed that most minded children were cared for by relatives or friends. Parents showed most concern for the physical environment rather than the emotional needs of their children.
Since 1993, the Family Resource Centre (Tuen Mun) of the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society has pioneered a child-care project, the Caring Carers - Family Care Scheme, linking parents in need of child-minding services with 'screened' child-minders.
A matching service, advice, and resources, in the process of choosing suitable carers, are provided for parents. Child-minders are supported to offer quality child-care service with professional advice or programmes provided by us and we facilitate their co-operation with parents. In the past year, more than 40 children were placed with selected child-minders, about 43 per cent of whom being aged two or below.