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SCMP Editorial

In a rare display of shared anger during the festive season, the chief executive and her welfare minister took to the internet to condemn alleged physical abuse of toddlers by staff at the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children.
Police arrested three employees after reviewing surveillance footage. All are now on bail on serious charges.
Meanwhile, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor says the government will move as soon as possible to strengthen child protection, including mandatory reporting of suspected cases.
Law Chi-kwong has ordered his department to investigate the circumstances, including monitoring of staff.
‘Heartbroken’ Hong Kong minister orders probe as 2 charged in child abuse case
These are welcome responses. Hopefully the outcomes will reflect public outrage. Child abuse is an emotive subject.
It takes only one figure suggesting the city has a growing problem with it to raise a red flag; an additional figure flashes red lights.
When police figures tend to corroborate the first two there can be little argument about the need for more positive action to protect vulnerable children.
The group Against Child Abuse reported a surge to 1,200 reports and inquiries involving 248 children aged six to 14 in 2020-21; then the Social Welfare Department reported 1,023 cases in the first nine months of this year, up by 57 per cent from the same period last year, and the police force said it had handled 871 cases in the first nine months, up by 66 per cent from 525 year on year.
Police said physical abuse surged by 70 per cent to 444, with 130 cases involving children under six.
What these figures have in common is that they reflect an apparent increase in child abuse during the coronavirus pandemic, with a weaker economy blamed for domestic stress and children spending less time in school.
Ban corporal punishment in Hong Kong, child abuse concern group says
This is a reminder that the social fabric is easily torn by sustained social and economic pressure.
That said, children who lack the emotional and physical environment of a loving family are among the most vulnerable members of society.
The agencies and staff who take care of them bear a solemn responsibility, as evidenced by the need to be registered with the government. At the same time they deserve due recognition and support.
It is good that protection is to be strengthened by legislation. Meanwhile, the authorities need to take swift action to check supervision and monitoring at other agencies.


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Crime in Hong Kong

We must protect our children with action

There can be little argument about the need for more positive action to protect vulnerable children. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong must learn from grim child abuse case

There has been a surge in child abuse cases during the pandemic. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong welfare minister throws support behind proposed law criminalising failure to report child abuse

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong has voiced his support for a new offence criminalising failure to report child abuse. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Bystanders face up to 20 years’ jail for failing to report child abuse under proposed law change in Hong Kong

The proposed offence covers everyone who has a duty of care to a child. Photo: Shutterstock

From left, Adeline Wan, Secretary of Law Reform Commission; Mr Stephen Hung, member of Law Reform Commission; Amanda Whitfort, Chairperson; Dr Philip Beh and Louisa Ng, Secretary to the Sub-committee at the press conference of Law Reform on Causing or Allowing the Death of a Child or Vulnerable Adultâs report at ISD, Harbour Building. 10SEP21 SCMP/ K. Y. Cheng

Opinion


Anger is understandable as the number of cases of abuse rise, but what is more important is that all of us – the authorities included – take steps to stem the tide



Anger is understandable as the number of cases of abuse rise, but what is more important is that all of us – the authorities included – take steps to stem the tide.


Hong Kong police

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

Editorial

Editorial | We must protect our children with action

Anger is understandable as the number of cases of abuse rise, but what is more important is that all of us – the authorities included – take steps to stem the tide