Hong Kong Committee on Children's Rights welcomes the Government's proposal to enact the Rehabilitation Centres Bill, which it is hoped will help young offenders by offering them a short-term residential rehabilitation programme.
The bill is tailored for those aged between 14 and 21 who have committed less serious offences such as shoplifting and minor assaults. This is a recognition that young offenders are more immature and will benefit from focused and short rehabilitation programmes.
Offenders aged below 14 need even more protection and greater understanding of their immaturity in criminal matters.
However, children in Hong Kong can be held criminally responsible even at seven years of age.
After discussion with a wide range of people, the Hong Kong Committee on Children's Rights developed a position paper in 1997 which argued for the raising of the age to 14 at which a child would become criminally liable.
We believe that children below 14 should not be labelled as criminal. A criminalised child can have life-long problems.
