Child abuse on rise in Hong Kong as NGO handles 1,289 calls in a year, but activist says reported cases are just tip of the iceberg
- Against Child Abuse report says NGO handled 1,289 calls about potential incidents between April 2017 and March 2018
- Organisations acting director says there is a link between smacking and abuse and says former should be banned in the home
Child abuse in Hong Kong is on the rise and activists warned the number of reported cases in the city was just the tip of the iceberg.
On Tuesday, the non-governmental organisation Against Child Abuse, released its annual report and revealed it handled 1,289 calls to its hotline, and from its drop-in services, from April 2017 to March 2018.
The NGO said some 214 suspected child abuse cases were reported in the city in that period, up from 198 a year earlier.
“Many cases are still hidden,” said Donna Wong Chui-ling, the organisation’s acting director. “These numbers are just the tip of the iceberg.”
Of those 214 cases, involving almost 260 children mostly aged between three and 11 years old, 131 incidents involved alleged physical abuse, 25 involved neglect, and 19 were suspected to be sexual abuse. The rest fell into other categories.
