Child abuse statistics indicate little victims may be near you – residents should be vigilant

Child abuse may be going on near you. There were 50 cases of child abuse in Sai Kung in 2018. The police can’t be everywhere. Residents should be vigilant, ready to report signs of child abuse.

Terrible things can happen. A little girl was found by pathologists after she died in hospital to have 133 wounds on her body. Dr Kwok Ka-ki said 58 injuries were recent, inflicted in the 48 hours before her death in Tuen Mun, and likely were caused by a rattan stick, clothes hanger or scissors. Deep bruises on her scalp indicated she had been thrown against the ceiling. The girl’s eight-year-old brother had 128 bruises and lacerations. The long term effects will prevent him leading a normal life. He’ll have difficulty even sitting and walking.

In April the 29-year-old father and 30-year-old stepmother were sentenced to life in prison for the murder. The woman’s mother was jailed for five years for child cruelty.

This heinous crime shocked all of Hong Kong and was reported internationally. But it is not unique. Based on Social Welfare Department statistics, we can be sure cruelty to children is going on in Sai Kung-CWB today. The Child Protection Registry report for 2020 says there were 940 new cases of child abuse involving 977 perpetrators registered that year. The ratio of abused children in Sai Kung was 0.62 per cent per 1000. That’s alarming..

Concerned people, particularly parents, will note worrying signs in the statistics. Most young victims of abuse were Chinese, but no ethnicity was spared: one child was a New Zealander, another an Australian.

Threats to children can come from anywhere. Most abusers were parents, but 8.9 per cent were friends, school mates or peers. These are official Child Protection Registry figures. A total of 7.5 per cent were strangers, 3.7 per cent were coaches or teachers. Two per cent were caregivers and one per cent neighbours.

In 2020 there were 143 cases of neglect of children aged less than two. Sex abuse occurred in 134 cases of 12 to 14 year olds, mostly girls. The Child Protection Registry said of the 940 cases last year 41.4 per cent were physical abuse, 33.3 per cent sexual abuse, 21.4 per cent neglect, one per cent psychological and 2.9 per cent multiple forms of abuse.

Local charities’ contact information:

AGAINST CHILD ABUSE 2755 1122. Head office: 13/F, Corn Yan Centre, 3 Jupiter St, North Point.

HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR PROTECTION OF CHILDREN 2396 0264, 387 Portland Street, Prince Edward