The Independent Review Committee (IRC), appointed by The Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children (HKSPC) regarding the incident at its Children’s Residential Home (CRH), held its first meeting this afternoon. Chaired by Mr. Lester Garson HUANG, the meeting was attended by all five members, namely, Ms. Lilian LAW, former CEO of The Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong, Dr. Phyllis CHAN, former Chief of Service, Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Dr. Alan SO, Chairman of the Hospital Authority’s Central Coordinating Committee on Paediatrics, Mr. Joseph MAN, Deputy Director of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council and Ms. Linda CHEW, former Senior Clinical Psychologist, Social Welfare Department.
At the meeting, the IRC discussed and confirmed the review purview, direction and timeline, and decided to undertake the task in phases.
IRC Chairman Mr HUANG said, “The Committee fully understands that the incident at the Children’s Residential Home has roused extensive public concern. These children are the most vulnerable and helpless in society. We must uncover the facts and speak for them. The main focus and priority of the IRC therefore is a rigorous review to unearth the truth.”
“We shall also conduct a thorough review on the organisation’s management and operation in a professional manner, ensuring we are fair and we turn over every stone. We shall provide suggestions for improvement in phases.”
The IRC is supported by an independent secretariat and experts including Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd (Deloitte) and risk solutions experts Steve Vickers Associates (SVA). Its purview includes:
- Identify the cause of the alleged malpractice against children in the “CRH incident”;
- Review the current compliance and service standards at other facilities under HKSPC;
- Assess staff members’ psychological and emotional status, and provide support as necessary;
- Provide specific suggestions and measures to avoid any similar incidents in future, including that in regard to corporate governance, service monitoring, reporting mechanism, quality of staff and continuous training;
- Compile review reports with specific recommendations and reform measures.
The first-phase report of the IRC will focus on CRH. In the second phase, it will report on the entire organisation’s governance and operation. The IRC will ensure comprehensive coverage and integrity of review, and will complete the task as soon as possible to allay public concerns and restore confidence.
Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children
Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children