In terms of serving the community, at present four of the 13 Executive Council members are women. I hope to see more women participating in all sectors of our community. Such changes are due in no small part, to the joint efforts of the Government, service providers, non-government organizations and pioneer women leaders. For example, to enable women to work, we provide comprehensive childcare services through child care centres and after-school care programmes. The Department of Health has set up a number of Women Health Centres and Maternal and Child Health Centres to attend to women's specific health needs.
Girls enjoy nine years free education as boys.
Legislation is in place to safeguard women's employment rights and to protect women against violence. A Working Group on Battered Spouse was also established to strengthen the co-ordination of efforts and services for victims of domestic violence. A number of legislative amendments were introduced by the Government to enhance our ability to combat sexual offence. And services were improved to minimise the physical and psychological trauma of victims. In the following year, the Family Status Discrimination Ordinance came into force.