Plea for HK$5m gets cold shoulder from officials A Hong Kong charity has successfully bid to host a major conference on child abuse, but the government has refused to provide funding, despite its policy to turn the city into an international events capital. The government paid HK$250 million to host the WTO ministerial conference last year and HK$87 million for the ITU Telecom World last month. A further HK$25 million has been set aside for the 59th Session of the International Statistical Institute to be held in 2013. But Against Child Abuse, which is to host the 17th International Congress of the International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect - the world's leading group in child protection based in Chicago - said its request for funding had been turned down. The event is scheduled to run from September 7 to 10 next year at the Convention and Exhibition Centre. About 1,000 delegates from 120 countries, including social workers, counsellors, nurses, psychiatrists, lawyers, police officers, academics and judges, will attend. Priscilla Lui, director of Against Child Abuse, said: 'When we first bid to host the congress last year, we briefed the Social Welfare Department and they very much endorsed our move. But when we asked whether the government could offer us any financial support, officials said funds were not available. 'We also asked whether we could seek money from the Lotteries Fund, but they said its scope had been changed and our plan did not fit in well. We are talking about HK$5 million here, which is definitely not a big amount. This is important to Hong Kong, especially when the solidarity of families in the city is deteriorating.' Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung, legislator for the social welfare sector, said the government should look at world-class events in a wider perspective. 'If we are really meant to be an international events capital, then officials should be less money-orientated and not just support financial or economic conferences. This child-protection congress is definitely a key event that can boost the city's status,' he said. Mrs Lui said: 'The government has talked a lot about efforts to stop child abuse. Officials should show their determination in making child protection a top priority.' The congress will explore ways of creating a good living environment from a child's point of view. Mrs Lui said they were also looking at ways to have children representatives at the meeting. She said they were now seeking sponsors from charities and the private sector and looking for volunteers from universities. But she was worried that if they failed to raise enough money, registration fees would have to be raised, which could turn delegates away. A spokeswoman for the Social Welfare Department said international conferences were only one way for professionals to meet and learn from each other on issues such as child abuse and protection. 'We welcome NGOs to organise conferences to facilitate professional sharing. As far as the department is concerned ... there is a more pressing need for us to focus our efforts and manpower resources in enhancing our services for families and individuals affected by domestic violence. 'We have provided Against Child Abuse with information on possible funding sources.' CONGRESS CITY Global conferences in HK The Conference Number of visitors Government funding WTO ministerial conference (2005) 10,000 HK$250m ITU Telecom World (2006) 60,000 HK$67m 59th Session of the International Statistical Institute (2013) 2,200 HK$25m 17th International Congress of the International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (2008) 1,000 HK$0