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Hong Kong Lawmakers Push for Tougher Child Abuse Penalties

4/12/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Hong Kong authorities face renewed pressure to raise the maximum penalty for serious child abuse after a protection-law update (last revised in 1995) stalled for seven years.
A South China Morning Post review shows only one of 13 serious cases yielded a near-maximum 10-year term.
Lawmakers passed a non-binding motion to enhance protection legislation, urging a higher maximum penalty unchanged since 1995.

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Story summary

Hong Kong authorities face renewed pressure to raise the maximum penalty for serious child abuse after a protection-law update (last revised in 1995) stalled for seven years.
A South China Morning Post review shows only one of 13 serious cases yielded a near-maximum 10-year term.
Lawmakers passed a non-binding motion to enhance protection legislation, urging a higher maximum penalty unchanged since 1995.