Editorial | Care required with Hong Kong child protection law
- Measures must encourage victims to come forward as Hong Kong abuse cases rise with youngsters back at school and more willing to report incidents
More troubling evidence has emerged underscoring the need for Hong Kong to stay focused on finding ways to better protect children, with police recording a 29 per cent increase in child abuse cases in the first half of the year compared with the same period in 2022.
There were 716 physical and sexual abuse cases involving youngsters recorded between January and June.
Figures also showed the number of physical abuse cases involving children rose to 359 during the first half of 2023, some 25 per cent more than the previous year.
Sexual abuse cases targeting minors stood at 357, up 33.2 per cent, and there was an 80 per cent increase in incidents involving indecent assault.
Senior Superintendent Kelvin Kong Wing-cheung, of the crime wing support group, said about 45 per cent of cases were reported by teachers and social workers.
A growing number of cases may be coming to light because of the resumption of in-person classes at schools. With the lifting of pandemic curbs earlier this year, pupils are back in classrooms where many victims may speak more freely.