Editorial | Fine print aside, our children come first
- Legislation to protect the most vulnerable in society has been amended to give Hong Kong childcare professionals benefit of the doubt, but that should not abandon core principles of the original intent of the law
Children deserve to grow up in an environment free from violence and abuse. Sadly for some that has not been the case, and sadder still, many cases go unreported.
Authorities have thus been working on legislation to strengthen legal protections against child abuse, making it a criminal offence for doctors, social workers, teachers and other professionals who fail to report cases involving serious harm.
After debate and input from lawmakers, Hong Kong welfare authorities have amended the bill to reduce some penalties and reserve jail terms only for cases involving serous harm.
The changes are reasonable ones.
Under the original bill announced last year, workers in 23 professions − also including nurses, dentists and childcare staff − who failed to report incidents of psychological attacks, neglect and physical or sexual abuse, would face up to three months in prison and a HK$50,000 fine.
Concerns emerged that the definition of serious harm was so vague that professionals might be compelled to unnecessarily report some cases to avoid losing their qualifications. Additional concerns were the proposed penalties were too stiff and the bill failed to offer professionals adequate defence.
