Consultation on sexual harassment bill later this year

Chu Lam Lam

The government is currently conducting a full review of the Penal Code, including an assessment of the legislation regarding sexual crimes, according to the Law Reform and International Law Bureau (DSRJDI) director, Chu Lam Lam. The bureau has also added the revision of the anti-drug trafficking law to this year’s legislation agenda.
The director revealed, replying to lawmaker Ng Kuok Cheong’s written inquiry, that a public consultation will be launched on the criminal legislation against sexual harassment in the second half of this year.
Citing the current laws as “inadequate protection” for victims of sexual harassment, Ng criticized the DSRJDI – which is responsible for coordinating amendments to the Penal Code – for not actively responding to the outcry for related criminal legislation, despite public prompts from many lawmakers and the Prosecutor General.
In addition, the lawmaker questioned whether the revision of the anti-drug trafficking law would be included in this year’s law reform agenda; the authorities had noticed that the last revision to penalties, made in 2009, has caused a significant decrease in soft drug trafficking and drug abuse.
The previous revision hit harder on heavy crimes, but lightened the penalties on lighter offenses. In reply, Chu said that the Anti-Drug Committee has set up a review group to assess the effectiveness of the current legal system’s enforcement in combatting drug crimes, and to study the necessity for law amendments.
Ng Kuok Cheong urged the authorities to improve the criminal procedural system that has been criticized for “lagging behind,” in order to enhance judicial efficiency. However, the bureau replied that the Code of Criminal Procedure was amended in 2013, whereas the effectiveness of the amendment, which was enforced from the beginning of 2014, will be assessed under the government’s sustained attention. BY