Not one case has been prosecuted since amendment took effect in 2002
More than three years after the marital-rape laws were changed, many victims are unaware their husbands can be jailed for raping or sexually assaulting them.
Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen has vowed to tackle domestic violence, but abuse counsellors and lawyers say it will be an uphill battle.
Irene Ng Wai-ching, of the Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women, said even some police and lawyers seemed unaware of the legal amendment.
Ms Ng said that last year, more than 4 per cent, or 23 of the women who contacted her organisation had been raped by their current or former husbands.
'None of those women went to the police. Most of them said it is difficult to sue their husbands or ex-husbands. They think it is their duty as a wife to provide sexual services for their husbands. Or they feel pressure from relatives not to report it,' she said. 'But I think many people don't know about the amendment to the law. Many in the legal profession and police force don't even seem to know.'
The Social Welfare Department reports that last year it received four cases of 'spousal sexual abuse', with four more in the first six months of this year. It did not specify if the cases involved rape.