{
  "id": 293750,
  "title": "Bar Association broadly backs new offence for persistent child sexual abuse",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/bar-association-broadly-backs-new-offence-for-persistent-child-sexual",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-08T04:00:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3363364/bar-association-broadly-backs-new-offence-persistent-child-sexual-abuse"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Hong Kong Bar Association has broadly supported the introduction of a dedicated offence for persistent child sexual abuse, after 20 years of experience in other jurisdictions addressed evidential concerns. Vice-chairman Martin Hui Siu-ting stated that while the association reversed its previous reservations from 2001, safeguards were necessary to ensure fair trials for both defendants and victims. The government's proposal to overhaul outdated sexual offence laws does not include provisions for the dedicated offence, but the Secretary for Security has stated that his bureau will actively consider the calls to introduce the separate offence. The proposal stems from a 1999 ruling that quashed convictions for repetitive sexual abuse when a child could not accurately recall the incidents. The association and Hong Kong Law Society had previously opposed the proposal due to difficulties in raising evidence and defendants' unclear understanding of allegations. Hui suggested four safeguards, including considering individual substantive charges first, not charging defendants with both persistent child sexual abuse and other sexual offences simultaneously, and requiring the secretary for justice's consent before launching prosecutions. The safeguards aim to maintain procedural and legal integrity while protecting the rights of both complainants and defendants.",
  "summary": "The Hong Kong Bar Association has said it “broadly supports” a dedicated offence for persistent child sexual abuse, after concerns over evidential issues in such cases were resolved in other jurisdictions in the past two decades. Vice-chairman Martin Hui Siu-ting said that while the association had reversed previous reservations it expressed when the city last discussed such a proposal in 2001,…",
  "key_points": [
    "Hong Kong Bar Association supports new offence for persistent child sexual abuse.",
    "Vice-chairman Martin Hui reverses 2001 reservations after 20 years of experience.",
    "Safeguards proposed to ensure fair trials and protect rights of complainants and defendants."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Bar Association's endorsement of a dedicated offence for persistent child sexual abuse marks a shift in its stance, driven by experience in other jurisdictions and a focus on balancing defendant and victim rights.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
        "title": "Bar Association broadly backs new offence for persistent child sexual abuse",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/bar-association-broadly-backs-new-offence-for-persistent-child-sexual-329342",
        "published": "2026-08-08T04:00:27.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}