Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance comes into effect today

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     The Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance came into effect today (January 20). The Ordinance mandates 25 categories of specified professionals in the social welfare sector, education sector and healthcare sector to make a report as soon as practicable if there is a reasonable ground to suspect a child is suffering serious harm or is at real risk of suffering serious harm that come to the notice of the professionals during the course of their work.

     Any specified professional who fails to comply with the obligation to make mandatory reports under the Ordinance may result in a maximum penalty of three months' imprisonment and a fine of level 5 ($50,000). The Ordinance provides protection for specified professionals at the same time by prohibiting any person from inhibiting or obstructing the making of reports or disclosing the identity of specified professionals who made reports.

"The commencement of the Ordinance marks an important milestone in Hong Kong's efforts regarding child protection by creating a comprehensive and effective protection web for children," a spokesman for the Labour and Welfare Bureau said.

     Please visit the webpage (www.childprotectiontraining.hk/home) for information on child protection.

Ends/Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Issued at HKT 10:00

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