Twice as many Hong Kong women sought help from Caritas, a Catholic family service, in November and December after media reported two cases of domestic violence in which two women were killed.

 

A Caritas representative said 52 wives had contacted them in the past two months, compared with the monthly average of nine from January to October.

 

Social workers said that the cases had such an impact on the women that they feared for their lives at the sight of husbands smashing their fists on the tables.

 

Caritas has urged the government to set up a marriage counseling service for men.

 

(China Daily January 25, 2007)