With the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Bill set to take effect in January next year, child protection experts are calling for greater awareness of support services to help struggling parents before situations escalate.
The comments came as Hong Kong recorded 1,547 new child abuse cases last year, a concerning increase from the previous year's 1,500 cases, according to the latest Social Welfare Department figures.
Speaking on a radio program Saturday morning, Anna Cheng Wai-fun, a pediatric specialist and committee member of Against Child Abuse, emphasized that multiple factors can contribute to parental stress, including emotional difficulties, cramped living conditions, and caring for children with special needs.
She warned that while abusive behavior might stop a child's crying temporarily, it often leads to long-term psychological damage. The doctor particularly highlighted the devastating effects of sexual abuse, which can cause developmental regression in young victims.
Meanwhile, medical professionals are strengthening protocols to identify potential abuse cases.
Kwan Yat-wah, honorary clinical associate professor at HKU's Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, explained that experienced healthcare workers now immediately alert authorities when they notice unusual injury patterns on children.
These cases trigger coordinated investigations involving social workers and child protection specialists.
He said a particularly dangerous trend has emerged with some parents violently shaking crying infants, potentially causing abusive head trauma known as "shaken baby syndrome."
This reckless action can rupture delicate blood vessels in a child's brain, possibly resulting in blindness, intellectual disabilities, or even death.
Experts also advise caregivers to seek temporary respite care when feeling overwhelmed.
