Letters | John Lee must pass child abuse reporting law with greater urgency
- Readers discuss the safeguarding of children, the traumatising effect of child abuse, Cathay Pacific’s treatment of frequent fliers, and why abandoning the mask is akin to abandoning one’s health
The bill has been sitting before our legislature for too long and must be urgently enacted without further delay. While child abuse is not confined to Hong Kong, one hopes Lee will urgently address this shameful and much-neglected aspect of our society.
The pressures created by Covid-19 on families living in confined accommodation, with loss of income and loss of hope sometimes leading to mental health issues, have added to the burden on marginalised Hongkongers.
Neighbours and family members turning a blind eye to child abuse, not wanting to get involved, are also complicit in the crime. And so these poor little children are beaten and verbally abused by their tormentors, with no one to rescue them.
How can we as a civilised society allow this to go on? Where is our social conscience? Where is our humanity?
And so I plead on behalf of all these innocents who do not have a voice, for our legislature to move without further delay, enact this law and insure against people remaining silent and complicit in crimes against our most precious children.
Marguerite Lee, Mid-Levels
Government hasn’t done enough for children
Hong Kong has seen a series of child abuse cases in recent years.
I cannot say the government has done enough to protect vulnerable children. In Hong Kong, families involved in child abuse cases tend to have financial difficulties. Abused children may be afraid or incapable of expressing themselves and reporting abuse. People’s sensitivity to child abuse is too low, and society does not pay enough attention to children’s rights.
The labour and welfare secretary has proposed a three-tier system to address child abuse. However, it may not be enough.
The government must strengthen the law to protect children. Most perpetrators of child abuse are family members; this is especially traumatising for victims and risks encouraging violent, antisocial behaviour.
Joanna Chan, Kwai Chung
Goodbye Cathay, it has not been a pleasure
I’m sitting on a large number of what I consider potentially worthless Cathay miles, as getting these redeemed is proving impossible. I have been trying for the last two months for redemption tickets for as far away as July 2023 to travel to the United States, and have not had one opening so far.
I was a diamond cardholder for 16 years until health issues prevented me from travelling and so was rightfully downgraded to a lower tier. However, now that Hong Kong is opening up to the world, I have resumed travelling both for business and pleasure, and have resolved to avoid Cathay Pacific like the plague wherever possible, because they just don’t care about us. They do not honour their own mileage programme and their prices are substantially higher than their competitors’.
My advice to fellow travellers: seek out other carriers from neighbouring cities, you’ll be pleasantly surprised as to how much more affordable flying can be with airlines which actually will honour their mileage programme and answer your phone call within five minutes, unlike Cathay which can keep you on hold for over an hour at the bare minimum. It’s a distant memory when I would proudly call Cathay a world-class carrier.
Goodbye Cathay – it has not been a pleasure trying to do business with you.
Deepak Mirchandani, Jardine’s Lookout
Why I’m hanging on to my mask
Your correspondent (“Hong Kong’s harbour gives it an edge over Singapore”, October 15) should have outlined how Victoria Harbour’s distinct seasonal charms surpass Singapore’s lack thereof – the refreshing autumn breeze, the transient winter chill, and being able to enjoy Victoria Harbour without breaking into a sweat.
I have saved myself from catching a cold and having to visit a doctor for three years in a row by clapping on a mask. Hanging it up now would be like abandoning your health.
Edmond Pang, Fanling
