Time for Hong Kong to outlaw psychological abuse

On March 1, China’s first national law prohibiting domestic violence took effect, and not before time. The All China Women’s Federation has estimated that one in four married women have experienced domestic violence, yet it receives only 40,000 to 50,000 complaints annually, with many victims being afraid to speak out. In 2014, almost 90 per cent of reported cases involved abuse of wives by their husbands, with the balance involving children and the elderly. Domestic abuse, however, has traditionally been treated as a private matter, although this should now change.

The Anti-Domestic Violence Law applies to both married and unmarried couples, and defines domestic abuse as “physical, psychological and other harm inflicted by family members”. A victim can now seek a restraining order against an abusive spouse, and the courts must rule within 72 hours of receiving a complaint. The police, moreover, are required to respond immediately to abuse reports, with the whole emphasis being on assisting the victim before greater harm results.

In Hong Kong, in 2015, police statistics reveal there were 1,464 “domestic violence crimes”, but this also seems to be the tip of the iceberg. Although the police’s Family Conflict and Sexual Violence Policy Unit tries hard to curb domestic violence, its hands are tied by fundamental weaknesses in the criminal law. While cases of physical harm can be prosecuted, emotional abuse, which is not a crime, invariably occurs beneath the radar, with culprits evading justice.

READ MORE: Hong Kong needs to learn to respect its women, to break the cycle of domestic violence

In Britain, since December 29, when the Serious Crime Act 2015 became operational, people who emotionally abuse their spouses, partners or other family members in an intimate or family relationship can face up to five years’ imprisonment. To prove psychological cruelty, however, there must be evidence of coercive or controlling behaviour towards the victim.

Coercive behaviour, the essence of domestic abuse, is defined as an “act or pattern of acts which are used to harm, punish or frighten a victim”. It can include repeated threats, humiliation or intimidation, often the precursor of violence. Victims are often placed in continuing fear of violent repercussions if they fail to follow someone else’s demands.

Controlling behaviour includes conduct intended to make someone subordinate or dependent. This may involve preventing the victim from meeting family and friends, limiting access to finances, controlling social media accounts, spying on communications, or directing aspects of their daily life, such as when they eat, sleep or go out.

Alison Saunders, the director of public prosecutions, has said that “being subjected to repeated humiliation, intimidation or subordination can be as harmful as physical abuse, with many victims stating that trauma from psychological abuse had a more lasting impact than physical abuse”.