Letters | How Hong Kong can better protect its children from abuse
Readers discuss ways to build a culture of abuse prevention, doctor-patient confidentiality, and the US tariff burden on ordinary citizens
However, what further steps could the government take to truly fortify the city’s child protection framework? In our submission as part of the chief executive’s policy address consultation, Plan International Hong Kong outlined key measures that could drive meaningful change.
A structured, periodic review of the mandatory reporting legislation is essential. Not a single case of child abuse should be tolerated. Data from the Social Welfare Department last year underscores this urgency – “tutors/coaches” and “religious personnel” were implicated in 30 cases, accounting for 55 per cent of all institutional child abuse incidents. This statistic highlights the need for greater oversight in these sectors often perceived as safe.
To address this, Plan International Hong Kong recommends expanding the mandatory reporter list to include practitioners and heads of sports institutions, tutorial centres, religious institutions and child-related organisations. These professionals frequently interact with children in private and informal or even isolated contexts, making their role critical in early detection and prevention of abuse.
Currently, the Sexual Conviction Record Check Scheme only discloses sexual offence convictions. This narrow scope leaves children exposed to individuals who might have been convicted of child abuse or assault. In some cases, tutors accused of abuse were acquitted due to challenges with vulnerable victims’ testimonies yet resumed child-facing roles.