Hong Kong leader pledges to further increase inspections at childcare homes after employee arrested for abuse
- John Lee to ask Labour and Welfare Bureau to look into strengthening inspection and supervision capabilities at residential homes
- Woman, 33, arrested on suspicion of ill-treating six victims aged between one and three years old
Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to further increase inspections at childcare homes after abuse cases were reported at both of the only two facilities for those below three years old, with the latest arrest taking place on Monday.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday said he would ask the Labour and Welfare Bureau to look into strengthening the government’s overall inspection and supervision capabilities on such residential homes on top of carrying out legal amendments.
“We [take] child abuse cases very seriously, and must hold the offenders accountable,” he told reporters ahead of his weekly Executive Council meeting.
“I believe that [the scale] of inspections can be expanded by delegating work to independent [individuals or organisations] that we trust to enhance our capacity and frequency.”
In August, a report compiled in response to an abuse scandal last year suggested the creation of “service quality groups”, consisting of community leaders, justices of the peace and professionals from the healthcare, education and social welfare sectors, tasked with carrying out surprise checks on facilities.
