TNAG-1733-FCO40-2446-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 30

1

Supplementary to Quest.

jok Not

in Lego Meeting on 22.6188

5

1

MR. LAI (in Cantonese) : Sir,

three years,

62.

the Secretary for Security

said in the first paragraph of his reply that in the past

cases of sexual abuse of mentally

handicapped persons had been received but there were only

30 prosecutions. Why were the other 32. cases not the

subject of prosecution? Secondly, very often many cases

depend on the evidence provided by the victims involved

but they may not have good memories and may therefore be

in an unfavourable position legally. Will the Government

consider instituting special prosecuting procedures

such cases?

for

SE CRE TARY FOR SECURITY : Sir, it is true that

proportionately, fewer sexual offences against mentally

handicapped women resulted

resulted in prosecutions than similar

cases

against women who are not handicapped. In the

community as a whole, over the three years up to March

1988, there were 4,901 sexual offences against women,

resulting in 3,226 prosecutions, that is to say, a 66 per

cent rate in the community as a whole.

prosecutions which I have mentioned, which is

is slightly

fewer than 50 per cent. The police will always make every

effort to secure a prosecution and conviction when any

sexual offence is involved but there are special

This compares with

Page 30Page 31