SCMP｜Hong Kong churches warned over ‘systemic’ flaws in handling sexual harassment
Hong Kong churches have been urged to broaden the implementation of anti-sexual harassment policies to better protect members after a survey found signs of spiritual leaders mishandling complaints, including downplaying incidents.
A survey by the Hong Kong Christian Council’s Gender Justice Ministry also identified at least 69 victims who reportedly experienced varying degrees of sexual harassment over the past two decades, including three who were aged 13 to 15 at the time.
The findings were released on Monday amid a public consultation on reforms to sexual offences laws, which will include new offences covering non-consensual acts.
Jessica Tso Hiu-tung, the council’s executive secretary who led the survey, said there was a “systemic issue” in how churches handled complaints, based on 94 responses received over the past year.
“The penalty could just be having the [alleged perpetrator] resign,” she said. “Or, the victim just received a ‘prayer of sympathy’ and that was it. But the churches were not aware that apology was only the beginning to make amends.”
Doris Chong Tsz-wai, executive director of the Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women, said victims found it particularly difficult to report abuse that took place within the church because the perpetrator was an authority figure who often enjoyed a good reputation in the community.
Victims also faced challenges from fellow church-goers, she said.
“They had a hard time talking about it because they were questioned by others in the church whether a pastor would really commit such an offence,” Chong said.
“We also heard cases that were required to stay silent. The church said they would handle it internally.”
In 2018, the council issued a study aimed at prompting churches to establish anti-sexual harassment policies.
Eight years later, the survey found that among 1,154 churches reviewed, only 47 per cent had such policies in place. About 400 churches had not done so, while another 200 were unaware of it.
In one interview conducted by the council, a woman, now 23, said she was sexually abused by a 62-year-old preacher when she was underage. She had attended the congregation since the age of 11.
She told the research team she had known the preacher for several years before he forcefully kissed and molested her. The alleged abuse lasted three years.
She eventually left the church, citing hurt over the leaders’ passive responses.
Tso’s team also interviewed individuals who had handled complaints, including a deacon who described himself as a bystander. He had received three complaints within the church, including one involving a victim who experienced more than a decade of abuse.
He said the perpetrator admitted only to “misconduct”, describing the abuse as “inappropriate physical contact”.
He added that the church feared civil liability and therefore did not keep formal records of complaints or disclose whether investigations had been conducted. Instead, leaders tended to “ask the complainants out for a chat” after receiving a complaint.
The survey found that churches, often celebrating “harmony and unity”, had “inadvertently provided fertile ground for abusers to operate undetected”.
With society becoming more aware of what constitutes sexual offences and the definition of consent, Professor Angela Wong Wai-ching said church leaders should receive more training on sex education and related topics, including personal boundaries.
“When a pastor pats you on the shoulder or hugs you when holding the prayers, how does one draw the boundary? It’s quite difficult within the church,” said Wong, an adjunct associate professor in cultural and religious studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Tso urged all churches to put protective policies in place, including clear definitions of sexual harassment, procedures for handling complaints, and mechanisms to enforce penalties against offenders.
She added that the Equal Opportunities Commission had been involved in providing training for stakeholders in the community.
The Law Reform Commission has, over the past decade, recommended updates to sexual offences legislation to strengthen protections for victims.
The new framework will replace 23 outdated offences and significantly increase penalties for some sexual assault offences.