A global investigation into child pornography has identified suspects in Hong Kong who have used their credit cards to access pictures of sexually abused children on the Internet, the Sunday Morning Post can reveal.
But police can do nothing to stop it because it is legal in Hong Kong to possess or download pornographic images of children. Laws that would outlaw the practice have been stuck in the legislative process for almost three years.
The revelation has prompted calls from child abuse campaigners for the government and lawmakers to speed up passage of the Child Pornography Bill, which was introduced in 1999 but has been held up by arguments over the definition of possession, and a glut of other bills.
A worldwide inquiry, which began in the United States in the late 1990s, has identified 75,000 people who have used credit cards to access child porn.
A number of people have been arrested as a result of the investigation, including musician Pete Townshend, the lead guitarist of legendary rock band The Who. He was held in Britain last week but has been released on bail.
Judges, politicians, child care workers, teachers and police officers from numerous countries have also been arrested.