LettersJohn 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

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John Lee meets a child during his chief executive campaign in West Kowloon Cultural District on May 4. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Published: 11:30am, 20 Oct 2022

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In his first policy address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu focused on the economy. He also said the government would introduce a bill on mandatory reporting of child abuse to the Legislative Council in the first half of 2023.

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?