Welfare group will urge chief executive to improve services
The government needs to improve its services for single-parent families in Hong Kong, a social welfare group says, pointing out that one in 13 children come from such households and that the divorce rate is climbing.
Christine Fang Meng-sang, the chief executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, said she would press the issue when she and other representatives from the sector met Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen on Tuesday to discuss his policy address.
According to the council, the number of single-parent families has almost doubled from 41,200 in 1996 to 76,900 last year, with one in every 13 children living in such households, or about 8 per cent of the total population of under-18s. The figure was 4.1 per cent in 1996, the council said.
Chua Hoi-wai, the group's business director of policy advocacy and international network, warned that single-parent families tended to have more pressure than two-parent because of the double role as mother and father.
'It may create difficulties in parenting, especially for those who have to work and can spare little time for their children,' Mr Chua said.
Hong Kong's divorce rate has been steadily rising. In 1996, there were 1.82 divorces for every 1,000 people. By last year, the rate had increased to 2.51.
