Letters | Hong Kong’s child abuse reporting law should cover more professions

Readers discuss the limitations of the bill on mandatory reporting of child abuse, why Hong Kong shops offer relatively poor service, and America’s unfair targeting of Chinese businesses

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The government’s proposal to require mandatory reporting of child abuse is a good move, but does not go far enough. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 11:30am, 9 May 2024

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The Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Bill now going through the legislative process aims to facilitate the early identification of abuse and provide timely intervention to protect vulnerable children. Yet a year after the bill was first introduced in the Legislative Council, it remains bogged down in debate.

The government has made some amendments, including a two-tier penalty system that would impose jail terms only for the most serious cases. Still, we see key areas that need enhancement.

Currently, the law requires 23 types of professionals – including teachers, social workers and medical practitioners – to report suspected child abuse. Failure to do so can result in up to three months in prison and a HK$50,000 fine. However, this limited scope leaves gaping holes that abusers can easily exploit.

Those working in sports institutions, tuition centres, religious institutions and child-related social service organisations often have frequent contact with children in their work. We’ve seen horrific abuse scandals in these settings both locally and globally, and Hong Kong cannot afford to leave these loopholes open.

In the sports sector, predators have been known to leverage the trust placed in prestigious clubs and influential coaches to prey on young athletes. The same power dynamics play out in religious institutions and tutoring centres, where adult authority figures manipulate and abuse the children in their care.