The force has admitted that Kim visited Tin Shui Wai police station the day she was stabbed to death in her home, after originally claiming she had not approached any officers that day.

Kim's friends claim she was expecting a police escort when she went from a women's shelter to the flat she shared with her husband, whom she accused of threatening her.

Her husband, Li Pak-sum, is in hospital with knife wounds.

'We will have meetings with the Social Welfare Department to see how we can enhance the handling of family violence cases in the future,' Mr Fung said. He did not disclose details.

Speaking at a public function in Admiralty, Mr Fung dodged repeated questions over whether the force would apologise over Kam's case.

About 20 protesters from women's groups demanding such an apology briefly scuffled with security guards and police at the Central Government Offices.

Kam, 31, and her daughters, Li Yin-li, six, and Li Tsz-wan, five, were found stabbed to death in their flat on April 11.

Mr Fung yesterday expressed sadness at the killings but said it was inappropriate to jump to any conclusion when criminal and internal investigations were continuing.

Both investigations are now being handled by the New Territories North Regional Crime Unit.

'If we find there is anything that we have to follow up, we will take it very seriously,' Mr Fung said.

Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong yesterday also expressed concern but insisted it was unfair to ask the police to apologise now. 'I hope we can give time to the police to conduct the two investigations. I can assure you that we will definitely not have any cover-up,' he said.

A spokeswoman for the Women's Coalition of Equal Opportunities, Lam Wai-ha, said that the police had failed in their duty and the force's statements since the murders had raised questions about its ability to provide help to family violence victims.

Police handled 2,401 family violence cases last year, 44 per cent more than 2002.