https://www.scmp.com/rss/515691/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Theodora Yu Theodora Yu More than 30 groups and individuals have collectively called on the government to close loopholes in Hong Kong’s child sexual offence bill and provide greater protection to survivors. In a paper released on Thursday, the non-profit organisations and professionals also urged the judiciary to review its practice directions to safeguard child abuse victims who often suffered from intense cross-examination in court, which could lead to secondary harm. They highlighted the urgent need to examine... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348839/call-close-loopholes-hong-kongs-child-sexual-offence-bill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348839/call-close-loopholes-hong-kongs-child-sexual-offence-bill?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:46:22 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson In the third of a series on challenges facing Hong Kong’s growing autistic population, Tara Loader Wilkinson speaks with a mother of an autistic son who found a simple way to help boost acceptance of neurodivergent people, and a filmmaker who is giving them a voice. Sometimes the small things make the biggest difference. So it was with 12-year-old Alexander Talos Schaus, who was born in Hong Kong and diagnosed with autism at the age of three. He is largely non-speaking; he communicates with... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348508/how-hong-kong-mother-autistic-son-helping-others-him?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348508/how-hong-kong-mother-autistic-son-helping-others-him?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 02:15:07 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan In the second of a series on challenges facing Hong Kong’s growing autistic population, Anthea Rowan examines the complexities of the autism spectrum, from the latest gut-health research to the move from awareness towards acceptance. While at university studying psychology and theatre, Dr Amanda Oswalt Visher worked with a three-year-old non-speaking autistic boy at an early childhood intervention centre. She noticed his movements were not random but followed a consistent pattern. To communicate... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348374/what-autism-understanding-spectrum-gut-brain-connection-masking-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348374/what-autism-understanding-spectrum-gut-brain-connection-masking-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 03:00:08 +0000 https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/series/3348341/navigating-autism-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/series/3348341/navigating-autism-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:41:27 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung A global investigation involving Hong Kong authorities has found that more websites and mobile apps designed for children are collecting personal data – ranging from phone numbers to addresses – than they did about a decade ago. The 2025 Global Privacy Enforcement Network Sweep, which included the participation of Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, examined 876 websites and mobile apps specifically designed for children across multiple sectors in early November,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347829/more-websites-mobile-apps-children-collecting-personal-data-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347829/more-websites-mobile-apps-children-collecting-personal-data-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 06:55:50 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A Hong Kong court has granted further leniency to a senior Immigration Department assistant, placing him on a one-year probation order after he was convicted of repeatedly choking his wife and young son during domestic disputes. Kowloon City Court heard on Wednesday that the 49-year-old defendant, identified as “ATK”, preferred probation to community service because he would lose his job and the substantial pension accumulated over more than 30 years in the disciplined services. He earlier... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3347818/leniency-shown-hong-kong-immigration-worker-who-repeatedly-assaulted-wife-and-son?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3347818/leniency-shown-hong-kong-immigration-worker-who-repeatedly-assaulted-wife-and-son?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 06:17:45 +0000 Rina Lai Rina Lai For most of my career in developmental and educational psychology, I have been guided by a single question: what do children truly need to flourish in the world they are entering? I don’t mean the world their parents inherited or the one textbooks were designed for, but the one unfolding – volatile, technology-saturated and deeply uncertain. Eight years ago, during my PhD studies at the University of Cambridge, I was certain I was close to finding the answer; I immersed myself in building... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347072/case-spiritual-wellness-age-anxious-youth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347072/case-spiritual-wellness-age-anxious-youth?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words On March 13, Against Child Abuse presented the results of a survey of 308 professionals at its annual professional forum which focused on mandatory reporting of child abuse. The survey aimed to elicit the attitude, knowledge, perceived challenges and insights of mandated reporters... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347586/how-hong-kong-can-map-path-forward-mandatory-reporting-child-abuse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347586/how-hong-kong-can-map-path-forward-mandatory-reporting-child-abuse?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Police have arrested a woman on suspicion of child abuse after she allegedly hit her 12-year-old son with a rattan cane in a Hong Kong flat. The police force said it received a report at 2.48pm on Saturday from a boy in Wong Tai Sin who complained he had been beaten by his mother. The boy, whose shoulder was red and swollen, was later taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei for treatment after police arrived at the public housing flat on Tsui Fung Street. Officers conducted an initial... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3347446/mother-arrested-after-boy-12-told-police-she-beat-him-rattan-cane?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3347446/mother-arrested-after-boy-12-told-police-she-beat-him-rattan-cane?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 15:34:47 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa On World Obesity Day, March 4, Hong Kong launched its first three-year action plan on weight management targeting rising obesity rates. Citing a Report of Population Health Survey 2020–22 conducted by the Department of Health, the government noted that over 50 per cent of Hong Kong’s adult population is overweight or obese based on their Body Mass Index. “It’s heartening to see the government taking steps to build a healthy community that promotes nutrition education and regular exercise,” said... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3347273/hong-kong-governments-plan-answer-obesity-or-eating-disorder-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3347273/hong-kong-governments-plan-answer-obesity-or-eating-disorder-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:15:12 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu’s alma mater was already struggling with major weaknesses that hurt enrolment, such as a small, remote campus and poor sanitation in the surrounding area, before the school was prevented from running a subsidised Primary One class. The Five Districts Business Welfare Association School, which has operated for 69 years, was among the 15 schools that failed to secure 16 Primary One pupils each to qualify for subsidies for the coming academic year. Fourteen of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346976/closing-struggling-hong-kong-schools-spares-parents-future-problems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346976/closing-struggling-hong-kong-schools-spares-parents-future-problems?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 05:19:05 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words The Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance, which came into effect in January, has sparked significant public discussion. However, much of this dialogue is underpinned by a persistent fear: that a child protection report automatically equates to blame or punishment. This... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3346332/families-need-not-feel-targeted-child-safeguarding-process?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3346332/families-need-not-feel-targeted-child-safeguarding-process?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words I am writing in response to the report, “Breaking the cycle: Hong Kong parents wrestle with impact of their own abuse” (February 19). As a psychotherapist, and as someone who grew up in Hong Kong, I found the piece deeply resonant. It rightly highlights the intergenerational... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3346082/confronting-child-abuse-hong-kong-must-reckon-problems-origins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3346082/confronting-child-abuse-hong-kong-must-reckon-problems-origins?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong A Hong Kong Immigration Department senior assistant who repeatedly grabbed his wife and young son by their throats during disputes has been ordered to perform 200 hours of community service, with the magistrate telling the defendant he had already received significant leniency while pleading for probation. Kowloon City Court on Monday sentenced the 49-year-old defendant, identified in court as “ATK”, after he earlier admitted six counts of common assault. While the defence had pleaded for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346006/immigration-department-worker-who-repeatedly-assaulted-wife-son-spared-jail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346006/immigration-department-worker-who-repeatedly-assaulted-wife-son-spared-jail?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:06:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Child protection has been strengthened after a new law mandating welfare, education and medical professionals to report suspected abuse came into effect in Hong Kong last month. Welcome as it is, the additional safeguard only helps identify cases for early intervention. For child abuse cases to be kept to a minimum, the problem needs to be tackled at the root. One way is to better understand why some parents still resort to force and other forms of abuse in child-rearing. The issue was put into... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344854/deeper-solution-child-abuse-lies-breaking-vicious-cycles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344854/deeper-solution-child-abuse-lies-breaking-vicious-cycles?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 23:15:14 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Anna Lee*, a Hongkonger in her forties, first realised the profound impact of the violence she experienced as a child when she became a mother herself. As she raised her two children, now aged seven and 10, she was alarmed to find her emotional reactions mirroring the volatility of her own childhood. “I found the degree of my sudden outbursts of anger not proportionate to the things my children had done, and I struggle to manage the emotion,” she said. “That reminded me of my father losing his... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343909/breaking-cycle-hong-kong-parents-wrestle-impact-their-own-abuse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343909/breaking-cycle-hong-kong-parents-wrestle-impact-their-own-abuse?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 00:30:07 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A Hong Kong court has granted a local married couple a parental order for two boys born following a verbal surrogacy agreement in mainland China, ruling that the applicants were merely ignorant that the arrangement was illegal. But a lawyer said the ruling was unlikely to set a precedent as the circumstances of surrogacy cases varied. Commercial surrogacy arrangements are illegal in both Hong Kong and on the mainland. The High Court granted parenting rights to the couple last Tuesday. According... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343597/hong-kong-high-court-grants-couple-parenting-rights-mainland-surrogacy-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343597/hong-kong-high-court-grants-couple-parenting-rights-mainland-surrogacy-case?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 01:00:18 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words As a professional with expertise in psychiatric nursing, family counselling and mediation, I welcome the newly implemented Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance in principle. However, I urge society to also pay attention to the practical challenges in implementing it. The... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3343403/protect-children-professionals-could-also-watch-family-dynamics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3343403/protect-children-professionals-could-also-watch-family-dynamics?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 03:30:09 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Hong Kong’s Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance commenced on Tuesday, imposing a legal duty on 25 categories of specified professionals in social welfare, education and healthcare to report suspected serious child abuse “as soon as practicable”. The policy creates a wide... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3340779/what-hong-kongs-abuse-reporting-law-means-child-facing-professionals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3340779/what-hong-kongs-abuse-reporting-law-means-child-facing-professionals?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow Hong Kong police have arrested two women on suspicion of child abuse, as a father took to social media to accuse a domestic helper of shaking his four-month-old son, causing a brain haemorrhage and bodily harm. The force on Tuesday night confirmed that it had arrested two women, aged 28 and 45, suspected of ill-treating a baby boy at a flat in Sheung Shui on Sunday. The suspects were being held in police custody. On Monday, a post from the father of a four-month-old boy went viral on social... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340608/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-women-child-abuse-allegation-goes-viral-online?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340608/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-women-child-abuse-allegation-goes-viral-online?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:51:57 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong mother Amy Chan* often feels overwhelmed caring for her nine-year-old son, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The 39-year-old said her son, diagnosed with the condition two years ago, seldom listened to her and lost his temper easily, putting tremendous pressure on her and taking a toll on her mental health. Chan, who works as a part-time clerk, said her frustration with her son’s uncooperative behaviour and her own stress sometimes became so intense that she was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340598/hong-kong-parents-special-needs-children-fear-abuse-claims-under-new-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340598/hong-kong-parents-special-needs-children-fear-abuse-claims-under-new-law?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 13:30:49 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong professionals mandated to report suspected child abuse cases under a new law taking effect on Tuesday are largely ready, but some have said challenges remain in working with parents from different cultural backgrounds and detecting online crimes targeting youngsters. Under the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance, more than 100,000 people across 25 professions in the social welfare, education and medical sectors are required to report suspected maltreatment of those aged under... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340476/hong-kong-professions-ready-new-child-abuse-law-some-challenges-remain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340476/hong-kong-professions-ready-new-child-abuse-law-some-challenges-remain?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:30:16 +0000 Andrea Lo Andrea Lo Hong Kong has seen a striking rise in the number of students identified with special educational needs (SEN) over the past decade. There are nearly 60,000 SEN primary and secondary students in Hong Kong, more than double the number a decade ago, according to The Social and Emotional Support for SEN Children Adapting to Primary School Survey, a 2023 report by Hong Kong Christian Service. The prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) alone among Hong Kong children aged six to 17 is now... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3340362/hong-kong-tackles-sen-technology-set-bigger-role-assessment-intervention?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3340362/hong-kong-tackles-sen-technology-set-bigger-role-assessment-intervention?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 02:28:32 +0000 Grenville Cross Grenville Cross The Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance becomes operational in Hong Kong on January 20, and will enhance child protections. It contains a mechanism for the early and effective detection of child abuse cases. It requires particular professionals to report if, during their work, they come to suspect a child has been suffering serious harm, or is at real risk of it. The acts considered serious harm include inflicting physical injury, forcing or enticing a child to participate in a sexual... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3337361/hong-kongs-new-legislators-must-strengthen-child-protection-laws?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3337361/hong-kongs-new-legislators-must-strengthen-child-protection-laws?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Dec 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong has seen a rise in the number of potential child abuse cases reported by healthcare, education and social workers in recent years, with such professionals accounting for nearly 20 per cent of calls to a hotline, an NGO has said. Against Child Abuse chairman Patrick Cheung Chi-hung attributed the continuous rise in calls by professionals from the healthcare, education and social sectors since 2022-23 to the passing of a law making it mandatory to report suspected child abuse. “In 2024,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3333588/are-hong-kong-teachers-healthcare-and-social-workers-more-alert-child-abuse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3333588/are-hong-kong-teachers-healthcare-and-social-workers-more-alert-child-abuse?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:05:40 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A Hong Kong man has been jailed for seven years for killing a three-month-old boy under his care, after a court heard the defendant had thrust a cotton bud into the baby’s throat and scorched him with hot air from a hairdryer. Jerry Ip Chun-yin, 38, on Tuesday admitted to manslaughter by gross negligence for abusing the infant whom he had promised to look after for his wife’s friend in August 2022. The High Court also recorded a guilty plea from Ip and his spouse Lam Ka-hei, 27, for child... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3333304/hong-kong-man-jailed-7-years-killing-3-month-old-boy-wife-also-abused-baby?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3333304/hong-kong-man-jailed-7-years-killing-3-month-old-boy-wife-also-abused-baby?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 13:43:44 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes You’ve visited campuses, spoken to teachers, reviewed the curriculum and extracurriculars, and are happy with the academic results. You feel good about the community and have finally chosen the right school for your young child. Congratulations! The hardest part is over. Now for the next step: understanding the admissions assessment. Sometimes this is straightforward, but it can just as easily be an impenetrable fog. Phrases like “social-emotional development skills”, “numeracy, cognitive... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3330460/how-hong-kong-schools-are-taking-holistic-approach-student-assessment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3330460/how-hong-kong-schools-are-taking-holistic-approach-student-assessment?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 22:15:08 +0000 Grace Brewer Grace Brewer For many parents in Hong Kong, securing a place for their child in a prestigious kindergarten is more than just an early educational milestone – it’s a decision that can lay the foundation for future academic success and, eventually, for career opportunities. Early admission into top kindergartens is increasingly viewed as the first crucial step in accessing elite primary and secondary schools, which in turn can serve as gateways to leading universities worldwide. Learning without... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3329348/getting-head-start-prestigious-kindergartens-hong-kong-can-lead-elite-education-and-successful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3329348/getting-head-start-prestigious-kindergartens-hong-kong-can-lead-elite-education-and-successful?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 04:42:11 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong The father of a young boy has been arrested in Hong Kong after police were alerted by the child’s mother to possible abuse and found injuries on the seven-year-old’s head and hands. Police said they received a call at around 9pm on Thursday from the mother, who suspected that her son had been “inappropriately treated” by his father, a 39-year-old man surnamed Leung. Officers who arrived at their home on Wan Fung Street in Wong Tai Sin found injuries on the boy’s head and left hand. They said he... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3329334/man-arrested-hong-kong-after-injuries-found-7-year-old-sons-head-hands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3329334/man-arrested-hong-kong-after-injuries-found-7-year-old-sons-head-hands?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 03:40:09 +0000 Gayatri Bhaumik Gayatri Bhaumik With Hong Kong’s array of schooling options, families in the city often spend huge amounts of time and effort trying to plot the best educational experience for their children. Would the local system or an international school be a better bet? Which curriculum would suit the child more? Would boarding school be the best choice in the family’s circumstances? In recent years, yet another educational choice has become increasingly popular: home-schooling. In Hong Kong, education is mandatory... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3328180/faced-hong-kongs-expensive-and-pressuring-schools-some-parents-home-school-instead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3328180/faced-hong-kongs-expensive-and-pressuring-schools-some-parents-home-school-instead?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 03:15:44 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words The Hong Kong government’s incentives to boost fertility are welcome, but they risk mistaking a cash transfusion for a cure. An 11 per cent rebound in births is encouraging, yet the same data reveals cause for pessimism: even after the HK$20,000 (US$2,570) baby bonus, 36,700... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3327786/cash-transfusion-not-cure-hong-kong-couples-reluctance-have-children?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3327786/cash-transfusion-not-cure-hong-kong-couples-reluctance-have-children?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Oct 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Josiah Ng Josiah Ng Getting your child into an elite school or university is more competitive than ever. Good grades, meticulously curated extracurricular profiles and outstanding personal essays are just the start of a strong application. It can be difficult to know what else is required, particularly if your child is set on studying overseas. For parents who find the ins and outs of the admissions process daunting, seeking the professional help of a consultant may be the best course of action. More than just... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3327718/how-consultants-are-helping-parents-navigate-path-elite-school-admissions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3327718/how-consultants-are-helping-parents-navigate-path-elite-school-admissions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Oct 2025 10:15:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Hong Kong’s fertility policy has recently taken a more proactive turn. Tax breaks, priority housing, childcare support and even a HK$20,000 (US$2,572) baby bonus are intended to ease the burden on young families. But do these measures really address the realities that my... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3326374/hong-kong-parents-need-sustained-support-rather-one-bonuses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3326374/hong-kong-parents-need-sustained-support-rather-one-bonuses?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Sep 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Child protection training should be added to accreditation requirements for professions covered under Hong Kong’s coming mandatory abuse reporting system, while schools should compile a list of high-risk students, an NGO and a principal have suggested. The calls were made at the start of the academic year on Monday, ahead of the city mandating 25 professions across the social welfare, education, and healthcare sectors to report suspected cases of child abuse from early next year. Under the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323968/hong-kong-schools-urged-have-abuse-crisis-drill-list-high-risk-pupils?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323968/hong-kong-schools-urged-have-abuse-crisis-drill-list-high-risk-pupils?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 15:16:11 +0000 The Asian Parent The Asian Parent When a cheeseburger costs less than a box of strawberries, it is no surprise that teenagers are reaching more for fast food than fresh fruit. But a new study led by the University of South Australia warns that it is not just diet causing concern. Teens are increasingly caught in a cycle of unhealthy lifestyle habits that could have long-term effects on their health. The study, which analysed data from more than 293,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 across 73 countries and five World Health... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3323278/new-study-finds-alarming-trends-teen-health-exercise-diet-and-screen-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3323278/new-study-finds-alarming-trends-teen-health-exercise-diet-and-screen-time?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:15:07 +0000 Ambrose Li,Emily Hung,William Yiu Ambrose Li,Emily Hung,William Yiu Teachers should be given more training to identify serious child abuse cases, Hong Kong lawmakers and a school representative have urged, after education authorities updated guidelines that mandate reporting of suspected incidents from next year. According to an Education Bureau circular issued on Wednesday, educators, social workers, therapists and psychologists working in Hong Kong schools must make a report if they suspect that a child is suffering serious harm. The policy will come into... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3322770/hong-kong-lawmakers-urge-more-teacher-training-spot-serious-child-abuse-cases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3322770/hong-kong-lawmakers-urge-more-teacher-training-spot-serious-child-abuse-cases?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 06:23:14 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Questions have been raised about the effectiveness of potentially extending a baby bonus scheme to talent admitted to Hong Kong to boost the birth rate, despite some professionals complaining about being left out. Experts and lawmakers said that other incentives and measures were needed to encourage childbearing and boost the birth rate. Last month, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the Newborn Baby Bonus Scheme was under review, with authorities to consider suggestions,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3320558/should-hong-kongs-baby-bonus-scheme-include-talent-boost-birth-rate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3320558/should-hong-kongs-baby-bonus-scheme-include-talent-boost-birth-rate?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Aug 2025 01:00:14 +0000 Grace Brewer Grace Brewer If you’re a parent in 2025, you’ll have had a hard time avoiding the term “gentle parenting”. Whether it’s showing up on your social media feed or being demonstrated at play dates, gentle parenthood seems to be the hot topic in parenting circles this year. But what exactly is it? What principles does it stem from? And most importantly, does it work? All families are different, from their multiple personalities and varied family structures, to the different needs and schedules of parents and... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3319937/experts-hong-kong-discuss-why-gentle-parenting-trending-and-why-it-may-be-useful-local-families?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3319937/experts-hong-kong-discuss-why-gentle-parenting-trending-and-why-it-may-be-useful-local-families?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 04:48:11 +0000 Emily Hung,Wynna Wong Emily Hung,Wynna Wong Hong Kong welfare authorities on Thursday issued a practical guide for professionals required to report child abuse cases under a new ordinance that will take effect on January 20, 2026. Under the coming law, members of 25 professions across the social welfare, education and healthcare sectors will face up to three months in prison and a HK$50,000 (US$6,400) fine if they fail to report suspected child abuse cases. The Post takes a look at the guide and asks professionals about how it could... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319610/hong-kong-issues-guide-reporting-suspected-child-abuse-post-takes-look?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319610/hong-kong-issues-guide-reporting-suspected-child-abuse-post-takes-look?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jul 2025 09:28:23 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities will launch a guide for professionals required to report child abuse cases by the end of the month, which will include a decision tree that can be used as a legal defence in court. An ordinance that requires 25 education, healthcare and social work professions to report suspected cases of child abuse will come into effect on January 20 next year, with offenders liable for a maximum penalty of three months in jail and a HK$50,000 (US$6,370) fine. Welfare officials told a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3318163/hong-kong-launch-guide-professionals-required-report-child-abuse-cases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3318163/hong-kong-launch-guide-professionals-required-report-child-abuse-cases?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Jul 2025 10:30:55 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights is outraged at the systematic targeting of children by drug and loan shark syndicates. During the summer holidays, all parties should pay more attention to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3317794/hong-kong-must-unite-prevent-criminal-gangs-exploiting-children?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3317794/hong-kong-must-unite-prevent-criminal-gangs-exploiting-children?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Jul 2025 03:30:07 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong children who feel they lack study and play areas at home have poorer mental health and academic results, a poll has found. Survey results published on Monday also showed that about 40 per cent of children living in subdivided flats said they did not have enough of the spaces at home, a rate that was higher than those in other types of housing. Hong Kong Metropolitan University and the Society for Community Organisation (SoCO) jointly conducted the poll. “We hope to look into what... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3317259/hong-kong-children-cramped-flats-have-poorer-mental-health-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3317259/hong-kong-children-cramped-flats-have-poorer-mental-health-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 11:09:44 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun The number of child sexual abuse cases in Hong Kong has nearly doubled over the past decade, reaching more than 500 last year, with over one in five of the perpetrators aged 16 and below, authorities have said amid a rise in harmful incidents targeting youngsters. Lawmakers on Wednesday called for the government to urgently address a rise in the number of younger child sex abusers. They also asked authorities to release the guidelines for the coming mandatory reporting mechanism for suspected... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3315818/child-sexual-abuse-cases-hong-kong-nearly-double-over-decade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3315818/child-sexual-abuse-cases-hong-kong-nearly-double-over-decade?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Jun 2025 12:02:40 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong should be proud of the healthy head start achieved by a new programme to help babies and mums. The city’s first breast milk bank, only six months after it started collections, has already nearly reached the goal set for its entire first year. Authorities had set an initial target for the Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank to gather 1,000 litres in its first 12 months. Officially opening the bank last Monday, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau praised the selfless dedication of 230 mothers who... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3315416/hong-kongs-breast-milk-bank-offers-best-start-life?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3315416/hong-kongs-breast-milk-bank-offers-best-start-life?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jun 2025 22:30:10 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities have rejected proposals to allow parents to split child tax allowances, citing concerns about administrative efficiency and the limited benefit to taxpayers. During a Legislative Council meeting on Wednesday, lawmaker Nixie Lam Lam suggested amending the law to introduce a default allocation mechanism for child allowances, such as according to income ratios, letting parents share the amount or claim it separately to reduce conflicts. “When it comes to supporting elderly... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3314903/hong-kong-authorities-dismiss-proposal-split-child-tax-allowances?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3314903/hong-kong-authorities-dismiss-proposal-split-child-tax-allowances?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jun 2025 08:33:53 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung An imbalance of power in churches, a culture of secrecy and the misuse of theology are among the significant barriers victims face in reporting sexual abuse cases, advocates have said, after a retired Hong Kong pastor was arrested in connection with an assault on a minor in the 1990s. An NGO and a Christian group on Sunday called on religious groups to establish sexual harassment policies, noting that sexually abused children took 13 years on average to seek help. They also urged authorities to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3313748/power-secrecy-hong-kong-advocates-why-church-sex-abuse-cases-take-time-surface?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3313748/power-secrecy-hong-kong-advocates-why-church-sex-abuse-cases-take-time-surface?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:30:07 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Eight in 10 children from low-income families in Hong Kong suffer from serious nutritional imbalance, with less than 14 per cent getting enough dairy, a survey has found. The People Service Centre on Tuesday released the findings of a four-year study that monitored 426 children, aged three to 11, from underprivileged households, including those living in public housing and substandard accommodation such as subdivided flats and cubicle rooms. The study, conducted by the poverty-focused NGO in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3312934/80-hong-kongs-disadvantaged-children-suffer-nutritional-imbalance-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3312934/80-hong-kongs-disadvantaged-children-suffer-nutritional-imbalance-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Jun 2025 13:21:07 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Principals in Hong Kong have criticised education authorities for failing to consult the sector regarding a new measure that permits popular schools to apply to operate an additional Form One class in the next academic year, raising concerns that the move will intensify competition among institutions. The Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools also questioned the timeliness and necessity of implementing the policy change amid the city’s declining student population. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3312783/hong-kong-principals-slam-popular-schools-class-expansion-without-consultation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3312783/hong-kong-principals-slam-popular-schools-class-expansion-without-consultation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Jun 2025 02:30:16 +0000 Steve Williams Steve Williams Philanthropist and social entrepreneur Brian Yip’s passion for making a difference started early. Very early. Like, age five early. “My earliest memory is helping out at a book fair,” says Yip, founder of charitable platforms 1000 Suns and YouthCORE. “Back then my mum instilled in me the importance of service and being involved in my community,” taking him along to recycling events, helping pack food for homeless people and visiting elderly people living in cage homes. “As I got older, it taught... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3311531/meet-teenage-philanthropist-behind-1000-suns-and-youthcore?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3311531/meet-teenage-philanthropist-behind-1000-suns-and-youthcore?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:10 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A three-year-old Hong Kong girl has been discovered alone in her public housing flat with the body of her 40-year-old mother, who was suspected to have died on her bed days ago. The tragedy came to light on Friday morning in the pair’s 24th-floor flat in Ping Wah House at Lok Wah North Estate in Kwun Tong. While an initial examination reportedly indicated that the mother had been dead for about four days, a source said the exact time of death would need to be ascertained by an autopsy. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3311588/3-year-old-girl-discovered-alone-alongside-mothers-body-hong-kong-flat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3311588/3-year-old-girl-discovered-alone-alongside-mothers-body-hong-kong-flat?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 May 2025 10:10:26 +0000