Sun Yuk-han: Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance in Force for Less Than a Year, Should First Focus on Implementation Work

The Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance took effect on 20 January. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Sun Yuk-han told the Legislative Council that the ordinance has been in force for less than a year, and that efforts should first focus on doing the implementation work well and accumulating experience before deciding the next step. He said the "failure to protect" offence recommended by the Law Reform Commission is consistent with the objectives of the current ordinance; the 25 categories of specified professionals currently listed in the schedule already provide flexibility for future additions or removals, and there are no plans for the time being to make people outside the professions subject to reporting responsibilities.