'Everyone has a role in enhancing child protection'

Maple Lau, director of Against Child Abuse, emphasized on Thursday that enhancing child protection necessitates collaboration between professionals and the broader community. Her comments came after police apprehended the parents of a 10-year-old girl on Wednesday, under suspicion of ill-treatment or neglect. The girl was captured on video carrying heavy beer crates through the streets of Tuen Mun, with her father walking alongside her.

The footage, which quickly circulated online, depicted the child bearing weight that is unsafe for a child to bear. Lau appeared on an RTHK radio programme to discuss the incident, expressing appreciation for the vigilance of bystanders who recorded the event. She stressed that children's rights and safety are paramount and must remain the top priority.

"We've seen a significant rise in public awareness of child protection," she noted. Lau categorized child abuse into four main types: physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and psychological abuse. Physical abuse involves actions like hitting, kicking, and burning, while neglect entails failing to meet a child's basic needs, which endangers and harms their health and development.

Psychological abuse includes setting unreasonable responsibilities for a child's age, causing them anxiety. Lau warned that even a single instance of abuse is concerning, as any abusive behavior can cause harm to a child. She urged parents to raise their children with love and respect, steering clear of violent methods of communication.