Dr. Patrick Cheung, Chairperson, Against Child Abuse

We are pleased to share in Hashtag Hong Kong on an important topic of child protection. This year is our 45^th Anniversary. Our mission is to promote a caring and non-violent environment for the optimal growth and development of our children through quality services in prevention, crisis intervention, treatment, training and advocacy.

On gravity of the problem, from year 2011 to 2019, there were around 800 to 900 cases of child abuse every year.  This number has been increased by 45% last year to over 1,400 cases. Then you may ask why?

One of the reasons is increased public awareness, from high profile cases in 2018 and 2019. There was an increase in identification and reporting of abuse. In 2019, the Law Reform Commission issued a consultation paper ‘’Failure to Protect Offence.’’ This new offence tackles the question of ‘’which of you did it’’ in serious abuse or child deaths investigations. And a reference chapter on Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse was included as additional information.

In 2020, professional awareness was heightened when the ‘’Procedural Guide for Multi-disciplinary Co-operation’’ was published by the Social Welfare Department, and delineation of roles and responsibilities of professionals was clearly made.

Then in 2020 the pandemic COVID-19 led to family conflicts, job insecurity, children at risk of sexual abuse online etc, adding to the toll of child abuse. Then in 2021, the community was shocked to know that 40 children were abused in a residential child home. So you can see how vulnerable children are in the society.

Even worse, it was estimated that only 1% of abuse cases come to the attention of professionals. Therefore, to save lives, early identification, reporting and intervention are vital. ACA has advocated Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse for some 20 years. In 2013, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child recommended Hong Kong to establish a mandatory reporting mechanism. In 2019, our Ombudsman suggested the same. Soon followed were Government consultations, debates, dialogues and forums among legislators, professional bodies and the community. Now the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance was finally passed and will be in full effect in January 2026. A simple message – ‘’if you see a problem, you must step forward and ask for help.’’

The main causes of child abuse is a complex issue, multifactorial in origin. Poverty, domestic violence, lack of social support, financial difficulties, parents with mental health problems, drug taking, teenage pregnancies, parents abused as a child, unplanned pregnancy or early separation from parents are risk factors of child abuse. Online child sexual abuse and exploitation is another pressing concern. Such risks easily escalate if proper assistance is not rendered.   

The word to remember about the long-term effects of child abuse is ACE - Adverse Childhood Experiences. In 1998, Dr Vincent Felitti and colleagues reported the relationships between the ACEs and leading causes of child deaths. There are seven ACEs: 1)psychological abuse, 2)physical abuse, or 3)sexual abuse; 4)violence against mother and household members who were 5)substance abusers, 6)mentally ill or suicidal, and 7)ever has been imprisoned. The more ACEs you have as a child, the more problems you have in adulthood, like diseases of the heart, lung and liver, cancer and bone fractures. People with 4 or more ACEs, had 4- to 12-fold increased health risks for alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, and suicide attempt in adulthood when compared to people with none.

In a study by the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, the estimated average lifetime cost per victim of non-fatal child abuse, including childhood health care costs, adult medical costs, productivity losses, child welfare, criminal justice and special education costs was USD830,000 in 2015. The estimated average lifetime cost per abuse death was USD 16.6 million.

We advocate a number of issues. The institutional child abuse in 2021 was a serious wake up call. ACA has a strong view that each child-related organisation should establish its own ‘’organizational child protection policy’’. Our Child Protection Institute was established in 2013 works with organizations on this, such policy will greatly safeguard our children.

The Report by Law Reform Commission in 2021, ‘’Failure to Protect Offence’’ needs to be enacted soon to provide deterrence to those who knowingly fail to protect a child from serious harm or death. Further, the maximum penalty under section 27 of the Offences against the Person Ordinance should be reviewed. This has been recommended by the court in recent years.

There are many more to do in child protection. Our other advocacies include total banning of corporal punishment, child central databank to inform policies and practices, online safety for children, home visitation service for at-risk children which is well proven in its effectiveness in child abuse prevention, a comprehensive Child Ordinance and Child Policy.

To end with an important note, when we work with children, their best interest must take priority.

Lastly this morning, I would like to dedicate a song 小時候 by 路家敏 to remind us all our precious childhood moments.