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LCQ19: Sexual offences and related matter
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    Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, in the Legislative Council today (October 25):

Question:

     Will the Executive Authorities inform this Council:

(a) of the number of children under the age of 16 who were reported to have been sexually abused in each of the past three years, broken down by the offences involved;

(b) of the number of persons convicted of sexually abusing children under the age of 16 in each of the past three years and, among them, the number of those who had been involved in sex crimes and the number of those who were engaged in work allowing close contacts with children when the crimes were committed; and

(c) whether it has considered setting up a database on offenders of sex or paedophile crimes; if so, of the relevant details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) From 2003 to 2005, the number of children under the age of 16 who were reported to have been sexually abused with breakdown by offences is at Annex 1.

(b) From 2003 to 2005, the number of persons convicted of sexually abusing children under the age of 16 is at Annex 2.
     
     The Police statistical information system currently does not capture classification with regard to the previous criminal records of convicted persons, and therefore for those convicted with sexual offences against children, the Police also do not have any classification based on whether they have previously been engaged in sex crimes.  The Police also do not maintain statistical figures in relation to the number of convicted persons who were engaged in work allowing close contacts with children when the crimes were committed.

(c) The Chairman of the Law Reform Commission (LRC) (the Secretary for Justice) and the Chief Justice have agreed to expand the terms of reference of the LRC's review of sexual offences to include consideration of whether a "sex offenders register" should be established in Hong Kong.  We have no doubt the Commission and its Review of Sexual Offences Sub-committee will carefully consider all relevant legal considerations, including privacy concerns, in their deliberations on the desirability and feasibility of setting up such a register.  The Administration will carefully consider any proposal which is put forward by the LRC on the issue.  

Ends/Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:46

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