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Four University of Hong Kong (HKU) students have cashed in on the popularity of ICQ to launch the SAR's first on-line counselling service.

 Third year social work majors Suky Chan Shuk-ching, Wong Ying-kit, Kwok Chi-wai and Autumn Leung Mei-sze have set up http://www.homestead.com/y2kicq/files/y2kicq.html, a Web site aimed at helping people who do not want to discuss their problems with others face-to- face.

 The first stage of the project, which was launched last December, ended in February, with counselling sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

  'We received an overwhelming response from Internet users with 684 people seeking our assistance,' Mr Wong said.

   Mr Wong said the on-line inquiries could be divided into five categories - dating, career and studies, peer relationships, and emotional and sex-related problems.

  The second stage of the project is now underway, with 12 registered social workers, including some graduates, providing the service every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night until the end of this month.

   Mr Kwok said: 'We're excited that many social service associations have shown an interest in our Internet service. More people will start such services in the future.'  The students believed the on- line counselling service would be popular because it provided an immediate response and saved many people the embarrassment of having to discuss their problems more openly.

 But, Ms Chan said, on-line counselling services would not be able to replace face-to-face interaction.

 'On-line counselling is just a modification of the traditional method and both should complement each other to provide a better service.'  Dr Yeung Ka-ching, assistant professor in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at HKU, said the counselling service would be expanded to online chatrooms.

 'We're applying for funds from the District Board to extend its scope, while youth centres have asked whether they could borrow our service to provide counselling on the day HKCEE results are released.'  The project is part of the Student Researchers' Scheme, which was established by the Faculty of Social Sciences in 1998 to get undergraduates involved in the research projects of academic staff. Under the scheme, students have the opportunity to act as research assistants for a semester or one year under the supervision of their lecturers.

 Each researcher is awarded $2,500 after completing the scheme.

 In the current academic year, a total of 50 students are taking part in such projects.



HKU students launch on-line counselling