Video / FAQs

Remarks:
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Text Version

Care Card Scheme

• Q1 : What is the purpose of the Care Card Scheme?

  A1 : The Care Card Scheme aims to enable the law-enforcement officers to early identify the MIPs and be aware of their medical and communication needs as well as ways to contact their relatives/guardians for assistance.

• Q2 : Must all MIPs fill in the Care Card and carry it with them?

  A2 : No. The Care Card Scheme is a voluntary measure. It is optional for those in need to fill in their emergency contact, medical and communication needs. When the persons concerned encounter emergencies or are under enquiry by law enforcement officers in the absence of friends or relatives, police officers will be made aware of their medical and communication needs from information on the Care Card and approach their emergency contact for assistance.

• Q3 : How do the Police verify the information on the Care Card? If a MIP does not have a Care Card with him/her, how do the Police assess if the person concerned is a MIP?

  A3 : The Care Card is only a supplementary tool to assist police officers to identify MIPs so that they can call the emergency contact for verification. Police officers have been trained not to rely solely on the Care Card in identifying MIPs. Officers should make the necessary enquiries and base their assessment on observations on the person’s behaviour and conversation.

• Q4 : Apart from the record on the Care Card, will the Police obtain the patient’s information from the Hospital Authority?

  A4 : Under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, the police are not entitled to access the information kept by the Hospital Authority.

• Q5 : Will the Police use the information on the Care Card for other purposes?

  A5 : No. Actually some stakeholders have reflected their concerns on storing personal particulars of MIPs in a police database. The sole purpose of the Care Card Scheme is to assist MIPs without the need for creating a database. MIPs, assisted by their guardians, filling the information on the Care Card voluntarily will have already served the intended purpose.

• Q6 : Where is the Care Card available?

  A6 : The Care Card is available at police stations, integrated family services centers, medical social services units at public hospitals, special schools and residential care homes for MIPs, relevant NGOs and MIP Parents’ Groups. Police will endeavour to further publicize the Care Card and expand the distribution network so as to enhance its usage by MIPs.

• Q7 : What can be done if the Care Card is lost?

  A7 : Obtain a new Care Card and fill in the information again.

• Q8 : Must the Care Card holder fill in all items on the Care Card?

  A8 : No. Since the Care Card Scheme is a voluntary measure, it is optional for the MIP/parents or guardians to decide which of the information to fill in having examined the best interest of the MIP.

• Q9 : Why do the Police have to launch the new Care Card Scheme but not to share the existing data with other government departments, such as the Social Welfare Department or the Hospital Authority?

  A9 : Under the provisions of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, the Police are not entitled to access the information kept by other government departments nor are the other government departments entitled to use the data stored for any other purposes other than the original purpose. Prescribed consent must be obtained from each individual data subject for using the personal data collected by other government departments.

• Q10 : What are the differences between the Care Card and the Registration Card for People with Disabilities (Disability Card) issued by Labour and Welfare Bureau?

  A10 : The purposes of the Care Card and the Disability Card are entirely different. The Care Card is a voluntary measure which aims to enable the law-enforcement officers to identify MIPs, and be aware of their medical and communication needs and emergency contacts. The purpose of a Disability Card is to enable the cardholder to produce, when necessary, as a documentary proof of the disability status. Unlike the Care Card, the Disability Card contains no information on the emergency contact nor the subject’s medical and communication needs.

• Q11 : How can the public be made aware of the package of new measures rolled out by the Police?

  A11 : Apart from the various forums arranged by the Police to introduce the new measures, a poster has been specially designed for the launch of new measures for the care of MIPs. They are distributed to all police report rooms, integrated family services centers, medical social services units at public hospitals, special schools and residential care homes for MIPs, relevant NGOs and MIP Parents’ Groups. All information on our services to MIPs is also accessible through a designated portal on the Police Public Webpage.

Notice to Appropriate Adult

• Q1 : What is the purpose of the "Notice to Appropriate Adult"?

  A1 : To ensure the Appropriate Adults are well informed of their roles and responsibilities in a consistent manner, the police has designed a "Notice to Appropriate Adult" which will be served on them.

• Q2 : What are the definitions of an Appropriate Adult for the mentally incapacitated persons (MIP)?

  A2 : In the context of the Force, Appropriate Adults include:

  • a relative, guardian or other person responsible for care or custody of that person;
  • someone who has experience of dealing with a person with special needs, such as a social worker; or
  • if the above persons cannot be located, some other responsible adult who is not a police officer nor employed by the police.
• Q3 : Before an Appropriate Adult fully understands the situation, he/she may not be able to perform the role as stated in the "Notice to Appropriate Adult" and determine whether investigative procedures are being conducted fairly. How could the Police assist under the situation?

  A3 : Police would not expect an Appropriate Adult to understand his/her role and responsibilities once being served with the "Notice to Appropriate Adult". During our training to officers, they have been reminded of the importance of communication. Officers would also answer any queries raised by an Appropriate Adult.

• Q4 : Do the Police allow more than one Appropriate Adult to accompany the MIP? In case of a prolonged investigation, could another Appropriate Adult take over the duties of accompanying the MIP?

  A4 : In the best interest of the MIP, police shall complete the investigation as soon as practicable. The police will commence investigation once an Appropriate Adult is available. However, for the benefit of the MIP, police welcomes the switch of Appropriate Adults should the situation warrant.

• Q5 : If the Appropriate Adult disagrees with the content of the statement recorded, can he/she request the police to amend the statement?

  A5 : If the Appropriate Adult thinks that the statement is not taken in a fair manner, he/she must raise it with the Police. If he/she disagrees with the content of the statement, he/she should not sign. The Police officer concerned will amend or write down the comments raised by the Appropriate Adult, who should not sign unless he/she is satisfied with the amendments made.

• Q6 : Are all appropriate adults (AAs) of MIP served with the “Notice to AA”?

  Police officers are aware of the requirement to serve the “Notice to AA”. Such requirement has also been included in the Police General Order.

• Q7 : What if law-enforcement officers cannot find the MIP’s parents, guardians or caretakers to act as his/her AA?

  A7 : Social Welfare Department (SWD) and the Police launched the “Pilot Scheme on Volunteer Appropriate Adults for MIPs” since February 2017. Should the MIP's parents, guardians or caretakers be not available to act as the AA, a social worker or other appropriate persons arranged by SWD will be assigned to do so.