Hong Kong police report surge in child abuse cases, link rise in sexual assaults to minors spending more time outside as coronavirus rules ease
- Cases of child abuse in Hong Kong rose 70 per cent in the first eight months of 2021 compared with the same period last year
- Girl, 13, ran away with 21-year-old man she met online, an incident police say has become increasingly prevalent amid pandemic
Child abuse cases in Hong Kong have risen an alarming 70 per cent in the first eight months of the year, while the number of sexual assaults are also climbing as the pandemic levels off.
Police said that about 30 per cent of the 231 indecent assaults recorded over that period were committed in public places, an upwards trend linked to more children going outside following the gradual resumption of face-to-face classes.
The Covid-19 crisis has also led to more young teenagers befriending people online, exposing a greater number of minors to predatory adults and making it harder for authorities to determine the real identities of culprits.
In one disturbing case, a 13-year-old girl ran away from home after meeting a 21-year-old man through an online platform. She was found at his residence after her family called police and he was arrested on suspicion of having unlawful sexual intercourse.
“Children are the future pillars of society, we have the responsibility to protect them ... It relies on the cohesive work and effort from all members in Hong Kong,” Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu Chak-yee said at the launch of the force’s child protection scheme on Sunday.