By Dr. Kevin Lau

In our society, children are the hope of the future, their laughter and dreams deserve to be cherished and protected. However, the issue of child abuse occasionally casts a shadow over some children's lives, harming their tender hearts and even affecting their growth trajectories. To address this, the government has taken firm resolve and concrete actions, implementing a mandatory reporting mechanism, increasing resource allocation, and providing multi-dimensional support services to hold up a safe blue sky for every child. This is not just a policy push but a warm promise—to let innocence bloom and allow every child to grow strong in love and care.

The issue of child abuse often hides in silence. Many children are unable to seek help due to fear or helplessness, and those around them may miss the opportunity to intervene due to hesitation or uncertainty about how to act. To tackle this hidden danger, the government has introduced a mandatory reporting mechanism, requiring relevant personnel—such as teachers and medical staff—to report suspected abuse cases in accordance with the law. This measure aims to break the silence, ensuring that problems are promptly identified and addressed. It is not only a legal responsibility but also a moral call for all sectors of society to jointly shoulder the mission of protecting children. With the implementation of this mechanism, the number of reported cases may increase, meaning the government needs to invest more resources to handle subsequent processing and support work, ensuring that each case is properly resolved.

To achieve this goal, the government has demonstrated a serious commitment through financial investment. Starting from the 2024-25 fiscal year, relevant funding will increase from HK$71.9 million to HK$86.5 million, and from the 2025-26 fiscal year onwards, annual recurrent expenditure will stabilize at approximately HK$157.4 million. These funds will be used to increase emergency shelter places for children and enhance support for abused children and their families. Specifically, the government will significantly increase investment in emergency shelter places: HK$14.533 million in 2024-25 and HK$29.066 million in 2025-26. The Social Welfare Department has begun expanding residential care services for children, expected to provide an additional 96 service places annually, benefiting 384 children in need. This provides immediate shelter for children in dangerous environments, allowing them to find respite and protection in a safe setting.

Beyond providing a safe haven, the government is also committed to helping abused children and their families emerge from the shadows and regain confidence in life. In the 2024-25 and 2025-26 fiscal years, the government will invest HK$157.398 million each year for professional support services such as psychological counseling and family relationship reconstruction. Starting in March 2025, the Social Welfare Department will launch "Home Support Services," therapeutic and psychosocial groups, and educational support programs to help abused children and their families address issues at their root. These services not only mend the psychological wounds of children but also rebuild family functions, ensuring that their futures are not shackled by past traumas but can find a new direction for growth in care.

Protecting children is a responsibility of the entire society, with the government, families, schools, and society at large interlocking to build a protective barrier. The government provides institutional guarantees and substantial support through policies and resource allocation, creating favorable conditions for other sectors. Families, as the primary environment for children's growth, directly impact their happiness through harmony and stability. The government's "Home Support Services" and psychosocial groups help families improve relationships and mend rifts through professional intervention, fundamentally reducing the risk of abuse. Schools, as educational institutions, not only impart knowledge but also bear guardianship and educational responsibilities. The mandatory reporting mechanism strengthens the role of teachers, enabling them to promptly identify and report suspected abuse cases, while educational activities help children learn self-protection. Society, as a broad support network, enhances public awareness of child protection through community organizations, non-governmental organizations, and volunteers via parent-child activities, psychological counseling, and legal aid, complementing the efforts of the government, families, and schools.

These four elements are not isolated but interdependent and mutually reinforcing. Government policies provide the foundation for other sectors, stable families reduce pressure on schools and society, schools bridge families and society through education, and societal care feeds back into each link. Only through concerted cooperation can we ensure that every child is free from harm and grows freely under the sun. As data shows, the government's additional funding of HK$171.931 million in 2024-25 and HK$186.464 million in 2025-26 represents the potential for countless children to change their destinies and for families to regain happiness. These investments are not just numbers but proof that real lives can be transformed.

The government's efforts are not only a response to current issues but also an investment in future social stability. A child who grows up healthily is a tomorrow full of hope. The initial effects of these measures are already apparent: emergency shelter places and the mandatory reporting mechanism allow abused children to quickly escape danger, psychological counseling and family support help them emerge from the shadows, and heightened social awareness promotes whole-society participation. However, protecting children is a long-term and complex task. In the future, the government should regularly evaluate policy effectiveness and optimize adjustments based on needs; all sectors of society should also deepen their involvement to collectively create a caring environment for children, ensuring they grow up safely.

Childhood should be a time of laughter and dreams, not fear and tears. Through the mandatory reporting mechanism, resource investment, and multi-party collaboration, the government is building a solid protective wall for children, allowing abused children to receive immediate assistance and sowing seeds of hope for their futures. With the collective efforts of society, we have reason to believe that every child can run freely under the sun, radiating their innocent brilliance. This is an action to protect life, and every effort deserves applause. Protecting children is an ongoing task that requires the government, families, schools, and society to move in step, interlocking. Only in this way can we ensure that every child grows up in a safe and healthy environment, realizing their dreams and potential. This is not only a promise to the children but also a beautiful return to the future of society.

The author is a specialist in radiology, Master of Public Health of the University of Hong Kong, and an adviser of the Our Hong Kong Foundation.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

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