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Stella Lee

Two out of three women fear being sexually attacked when they are on their own, a survey has revealed.

 The poll prompted calls for more safeguards and better care for victims.

 More than a quarter (26.8 per cent) of 714 respondents said they had been indecently assaulted, but a concern group said the real figure was probably higher as many victims did not report attacks.

 Releasing the survey results, the Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women warned women to beware of 'date rapes' over Christmas.

 It said 45.6 per cent of 75 victims who called its hotlines in the past seven months said they were attacked by someone they knew.

 The survey found 63.9 per cent of respondents feared being attacked after hearing of cases in the media.

 Police have recorded fewer rape and indecent assault cases this year, but association chairman Phyllis Wong Mei-fung said the figures did not reflect the seriousness of the problem.

 'Many victims may not report their cases as the issue still seems to be a taboo.'  Recent press reports of sexual offences helped to persuade 73.7 per cent of those polled to adopt protective measures.

 A majority opted to go home earlier or find someone to accompany them. Less than 10 per cent equipped themselves with tools or learned self-defence.

 Among cases which sparked fear in women was a spate of offences by a taxi driver and that of serial slasher Cheung Pak-hung. A 21-year-old computer operator, Cheung attacked 10 women and girls in different districts between August 1995 and January this year. He was arrested on January 29 at his home in North Point and will be sentenced next month.

 Asked why police did not alert the public to the risk of a serial attacker earlier, a spokesman said similar cases were compared across regions and centralised only if there was proof of links.

 Detectives said many incidents involving Cheung only came to light when he confessed.

 But Ms Wong said the police could do better by improving training and introducing guidelines for officers handling sexual violence cases.



Sex attack fear haunts two out of three women