Hong Kong’s reported child-abuse incidence rate rose from 0.92 to 1.54 cases per 1,000 children between 2020 and 2025, a 67% increase, Against Child Abuse said, citing Social Welfare Department figures. Sexual-abuse reports reached the same share as physical-abuse reports for the first time in 2025.
Sexual-abuse reports rose from 313 in 2020 to 501 in 2025, while physical-abuse reports increased from 389 to 501. Each category accounted for 37% of reports last year, compared with the organisation’s estimate that physical abuse made up about 45% of reports and sexual abuse about 33% over the previous two decades.
Official figures showed that the number of suspected child-abuse cases rose from 940 in 2020 to 1,354 in 2025. Against Child Abuse linked the broader rise to several factors, including the lingering effects of the pandemic, increased online activity, economic pressure, changing parenting approaches, landmark court decisions and greater public awareness.
The organisation said online child sexual exploitation was becoming more serious and was harder to address through traditional protection measures. It cited cases involving online contact and images, and called for robust safeguarding policies in child-related institutions. It also urged the government to create offences covering failure to protect a child and persistent sexual abuse of a child, while expanding family-support services such as after-school care and community support.
A mandatory-reporting law took effect in January, requiring 25 types of specified professionals to report suspected abuse. The government said it received 176 reports during the first five months of the regime. Against Child Abuse has called for regular reviews of the system, while the organisation’s chairperson supported proposed measures covering cyberflashing.
The government concluded a one-month consultation on wider sexual-offence reforms in August. An amendment bill was expected to be tabled in the Legislative Council by the end of 2026.