Over 90% of public submissions support Hong Kong sexual offences reform, says security chief
Over 90 per cent of more than 6,000 public submissions have voiced support for Hong Kong’s sexual offences reform, the city’s security chief has said, as he pledged to table a bill to the legislature within the year. Secretary for Security Chris Tang also said on Friday that the government had noted public views regarding […]
Over 6,000 public submissions, more than 90% of which expressed support, have been gathered by Hong Kong's Security Chief Chris Tang as the city's authorities prepare to introduce sweeping sexual offences reforms. The government plans to table a bill within the year, aiming to enact it before the current administration's term concludes in June next year.
Tang acknowledged the need for a specific "persistent child sexual abuse" offense, noting that the Bar Association largely agreed with this proposal. The new legislation seeks to address various issues, including the protection of mentally impaired individuals, expanding the scope of rape, and redefining consent. Critics, including rights groups like the Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women (ACSVAW), argue that current laws fail to protect survivors of prolonged child sexual abuse due to the requirement of specifying each assault's exact date and location.
Tang assured that the proposed list of 11 circumstances where victims would not be considered consenting was sufficient to address these concerns.
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