Hong Kong ‘actively considering’ dedicated offence to fight persistent child sex abuse
Hong Kong is “actively considering” creating a dedicated offence to target persistent sexual abuse of children, after more than 90 per cent of suggestions from a month-long public consultation backed a proposed overhaul of laws tackling sex crimes. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said on Friday that more than 6,000 suggestions were received throughout the consultation period, which…
The Hong Kong government is contemplating the introduction of a specific law aimed at combating persistent child sexual abuse, following a public consultation where over 90% of suggestions endorsed the proposed changes. More than 6,000 responses were gathered during the consultation, which took place from July 7 to July 13. Hon.
Chris Tang Ping-keung, the Secretary for Security, disclosed that the majority of these suggestions advocated for an amendment to the existing laws. The Hong Kong Bar Association has also given its approval to the proposal after evaluating various factors. The government plans to review this suggestion and maintain regular communication with stakeholders, including legal professionals.
The consultation aimed to gather opinions on the modernization of the city's sex crime laws, which are largely based on English legislation from 1956. The reform package includes proposals to redefine consent, enhance victim protections, and update laws regarding child and mentally incapacitated persons. The authorities aim to introduce the amendment bill to the Legislative Council within a year and complete the process during the ongoing administration's term.
Regarding the retention of the 'mistaken belief in consent' defense, Tang clarified that the bill already outlines 11 scenarios in which a victim would be deemed not to have consented based on established facts. While some submissions called for stricter measures, the government believes their proposed provisions can cover many of the scenarios raised, but will continue to study the matter alongside other feedback.
As for AI-generated sexually explicit "deepfake" images, Tang stated that this issue will not be addressed solely through the proposed sex offences reforms. Existing laws, such as those relating to unauthorized access to a computer with malicious intent and provisions on obscene publications, could already apply in some cases. The Department of Justice is also reviewing whether additional AI-specific criminal offenses are necessary.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
