Hong Kong officials have proposed amending the city’s decades-old sexual offences legislation, which originated from the British colonial era, according to documents submitted to lawmakers on Monday.
Many sexual-related offence laws in Hong Kong remain rooted in provisions similar to those enacted in England in 1956.
Some of the current laws “lack clarity and certainty” or are “gender-specific”, the government said, and include measures that “are not fully commensurate with the gravity of relevant acts”.
Under the government’s proposed new rules, the city is expected to further specify the scope of rape convictions and establish a statutory definition of “consent”.
The proposed amendments also include the introduction of sexual offences relating to children and victims with mental disabilities.
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Advocacy groups and victims of sexual offences have been calling for Hong Kong to implement stricter legislation for years.
Out of 807 cases reported to the police between 2019 and 2023, only 51 resulted in a conviction after the initial trial, according to the sexual violence crisis centre RainLily.
Officials said that a public consultation on the proposed amendments will begin in July, with the government having previously said it aimed to complete the legislation by June 2027.
AFP
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