HONG KONG: 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 (June 29).
Many laws in Hong Kong related to sexual offences 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 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 offence statutes relating to children and victims with mental disabilities.
The proposals are expected to "strengthen protection for victims of sexual offences" and "to modernise the laws... to keep pace with the times", officials said.
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.
The Hong Kong-based Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women, which operates RainLily, said in a statement that it welcomed the proposal but added it would like to see reforms also address the issue of mistaken belief in consent.
The group stressed last year that many victims of sexual violence have experienced additional trauma in Hong Kong's legal system without achieving justice, due to deficiencies in related rules.
Officials said that a public consultation on the proposed amendments will conclude in July, with the government having previously said it aimed to complete the legislation by June 2027. - AFP
