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SCMP Reporter

It was a tragedy everyone hoped would never be repeated.

A mainland mother and her two daughters were stabbed to death by the girls' father in Tin Shui Wai in 2004. The father also killed himself.

In the aftermath of their deaths, an independent panel on domestic violence issued 25 recommendations to the government, including better co-ordination between departments, better training of social workers and more power for district social welfare officers to mobilise the resources of non-governmental organisations.

But yesterday, after a mother and her two daughters were chopped to death in Lok Fu there were calls  for the government to stop dragging its feet on implementing the recommendations.

Hong Kong Council of Social Service  chief executive Christine Fang Meng-sang   urged the government to table legislation criminalising  domestic violence and  strengthen social networks in poor areas.

'At the same time, the government should set up a review to investigate serious cases of domestic violence that result in injury or death, to look at the causes, the background of affected families, how the families sought help and why they stopped seeking help.'

The victims in the Tin Shui Wai killings died hours after leaving a government-run shelter and seeking police help.

Ms Fang added: 'A review would help at-risk families by determining the appropriate legislation and services and provide a strategy to help social workers, police, the judiciary and members of society to prevent such incidents.'

Legislator Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung   said the government had failed to ease the heavy workload of social workers, and cases continued to fall between the gaps.

'We have been urging the government to set up a central co-ordinating body with the power to cut across  various bureaus and departments to effect change,' he said.

But Aaron Wan Chi-keung,  who led the independent panel on domestic violence in 2004, said the government had implemented many of its recommendations. He pointed to better facilities in new towns such as Tin Shui Wai,  increased manpower at the Social Welfare Department and better training for police officers.

He did not think new legislation  was needed, saying everyone was protected under the law.

'There will always be troubled families ...  I wouldn't say it is the result of government inaction.'



Two years on, have we failed to learn from the Tin Shui Wai tragedy?