Uni camp chiefs face sex-crime checks

Michael Shum

Organizers of university orientation camps may be required to provide sexual conviction records in the future, according to Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung.

That comes with the government considering expanding the sexual conviction record check scheme.

In a Legislative Council security panel meeting, Tang suggested a phased expansion.

In the first phase starting in the fourth quarter, self-employed individuals providing on-site services, such as private tutors, sports coaches and music teachers, may be asked to undergo checks.

"These self-employed persons usually have more one-on-one contact with children without supervision, and employers may not be familiar with them at the start of employment, so they are considered higher risk," he said.

The scheme will then be expanded to cover all volunteers by the end of next year, including helpers and organizers of university orientation camps.

"Volunteers regularly interact with children or mentally incapacitated persons, but the organizations they belong to may not be familiar with every one of them. Some activities, like one-on-one teaching or overnight events, may involve higher risks," Tang said.

After the first two phases, the government plans to cover all current employees and self-employed persons. To handle the expected surge in applications, the police force is enhancing its electronic system and setting up an online platform, as well as planning 24/7 fingerprinting services at six designated stations.

The proposal received broad support, but some Legco members expressed concerns.

Accountancy-sector representative Edmund Wong Chun-sek of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong expressed concern that it could discourage volunteering.

"We will provide volunteer organizations with guidelines and let them evaluate the risk by themselves," he added.

Tang said the mechanism is voluntary - employers and organizations can assess the risks and decide if checks are required.

To a suggestion by Legco member Chan Pui-leung about the possibility of finding out about convictions for sexual offenses committed outside Hong Kong, Tang said it was impossible to do so.