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The Family Conflict and Sexual Violence Policy Unit (FCSV) of the Crime Support Group under Crime Wing held the opening ceremony of the Let's T.A.L.K. Child Protection Campaign 2022 at Whitty Street Tram Depot on October 14. FCSV launched last year the first ever large-scale education and publicity campaign on child protection, Let’s T.A.L.K Child Protection Campaign, to promote the public awareness of child protection by means large-scale education and publicity campaigns. Given the overwhelming public support, another campaign is held this year, with the theme “Bystander Intervention”, to urge the public for early intervention when encountering child abuse cases.
Addressing at the opening ceremony, Commissioner Siu Chak-yee said that although the number of child abuse cases reported in the first eight months of this year was similar to the figures for the same period last year, the emergence of a number of serious child abuse cases aroused concern. Over the past year, the Force kept reviewing and improving the handling procedures for child abuse cases. He added that since the establishment of the Vulnerable Witness Support Cadre in July this year, the Force has continuously strengthened staff training and enhanced collaboration with different stakeholders with a view to protecting children and the vulnerable from abuse and harm. At the Government level, the legislation on a mandatory reporting mechanism of child abuse cases has been speeded up with consultation work starting in November this year.
The Commissioner then introduced the two trams for mobile exhibition themed on child protection. While saying that the tram, “Ding Ding”, is an icon of the city with long history, as well as representing the spirit of mutual help and caring, he hoped that the sound of its bell could also arouse public awareness of child protection.
The Child Protection Campaign 2022 will run until November 20. In addition to holding the tram mobile exhibition, the Force will enhance the child protection one-stop application (www.ChildProtection.gov.hk) and issue a new series of animations to provide knowledge and practical information on child protection. Moreover, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, FCSV and the Psychological Services Group of the Force will organise art workshops and badge design competitions for senior primary students, as well as social experiments urging the general public to come forward when encountering child abuse cases instead of being a bystander.
