Cases of domestic violence and intimate partner violence have been prevalent for many years. Although society has maintained a zero-tolerance stance toward these issues, biases surrounding them have led many hidden victims, particularly women, to refrain from seeking help.
On December 7, 2024, the Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres ("HKFWC") held a legal seminar titled "Say No to Violence" in collaboration with the Zonta Club of Hong Kong II at a venue sponsored by the Jebsen Group. This legal seminar aimed to promote greater societal understanding and attention to the needs of abused women. Five speakers from various professional backgrounds discussed how to more effectively assist and protect the rights of victimized women. The speakers included Ms. Tse Kit Ting, Senior Inspector of the Family Conflict and Sexual Violence Policy Unit of the Hong Kong Police Force; Ms. Karen Wong, Barrister; Ms. Diane Lo, Educational Psychologist; Ms. Apple Tsoi, Service Supervisor of HKFWC; and Ms. Portia Wong, Peer Counselor of Free Legal Advice Clinic.
Senior Inspector Ms. Tse introduced the three classifications of domestic conflict cases handled by the police: 1. Family incidents, 2. Domestic violence (miscellaneous), and 3. Domestic violence (criminal). The police prioritize the safety of victims and children when addressing domestic violence cases. The police employ a "one family, one team" approach, meaning that the same investigation team handles cases from the same family. This allows the team to be familiar with the family's situation and reduces the need for victims to repeatedly recount their background during different incidents. The police also maintain a domestic violence database to equip frontline officers with the necessary tools when dealing with cases involving prior offenses. Frontline officers are provided with a "multi-purpose booklet for handling domestic violence", which assists them in risk assessment based on the incident's circumstances, determining if the situation is "high-risk", "serious", or merely a family incident, and whether referrals to social welfare resources are needed. Between January and October 2024, there were 7,524 reported cases of domestic violence, among which 981 were classified as "criminal domestic violence." The three most common offenses were 1. Assault and serious beating (62.8%), 2. Criminal intimidation (17.3%), and 3. Criminal damage (9.4%). She noted that victims might not report incidents due to internal conflicts, influenced by traditional beliefs such as "family shame should not be aired", emotional ties to the abuser, desires to maintain family integrity, or economic constraints. She pointed out that domestic violence affects the next generation; studies from North America indicate that children who experience domestic violence are 74 times more likely to commit violent crimes and 26 times more likely to commit sexual violence.
Barrister Ms. Karen Wong shared the protections available under Hong Kong law for victims of domestic violence. Karen noted that domestic violence can manifest not only as physical violence but also through verbal, psychological, emotional, sexual, or economic abuse. Verbal abuse, if repetitive, constitutes psychological maltreatment. Both physical violence and psychological abuse inflict equally severe harm on victims and can lead to long-term psychological effects. Witnessing acts of violence can itself constitute emotional abuse against children. Karen explained that victims of domestic violence can apply for restraining orders under the Domestic and Cohabitation Relationships Violence Ordinance, effectively prohibiting the abuser from harassing the applicant or their children, and can mandate the abuser to vacate the applicant's residence. If the court is convinced that the abuser has caused actual harm to the victim or their children, it has the authority to attach arrest powers to the restraining order.
Educational psychologist Ms. Diane Lo shared that victims often do not recognize their situations as domestic violence, mistakenly believing that it only applies when physical harm is inflicted. According to definitions from the United Nations and the Department of Justice, psychological abuse falls under the umbrella of domestic violence, encompassing behaviors such as continuous insults, isolating the victim, monitoring their activities, and threatening harm to the victim or their children. Victims commonly experience personalization, attributing the abusive behavior to their own shortcomings, leading to irrational self-blame and unnecessary guilt. This mindset may arise from a lack of exposure to domestic violence cases, causing victims to think their experiences are unique. According to a U.S. study (The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 2011), nearly 30% of individuals have experienced psychological abuse, and about 48.4% have suffered from it. In contrast, figures from the Hong Kong Social Welfare Department in 2020 reported only 2,601 new cases of spouse/cohabitant abuse, representing about 0.3% of the population, raising concerns that these numbers do not accurately reflect the true incidence, leading victims to believe that domestic violence is rare and contributing to low awareness and discussion in society.
Long-term psychological effects of domestic violence include increased risks of PTSD, depression, and suicide, as well as physical health issues and impaired caregiving abilities. Diane advised that when friends or family disclose experiences of unreasonable treatment, one should take the following supportive actions: 1. Actively listen without dismissing their emotions or rushing to share opinions; 2. Assess whether the situation resembles domestic violence; 3. Share thoughts and information on whom the victim can turn to for help.
Ms. Apple Tsoi, Service Supervisor of HKFWC, pointed out that domestic violence is a complex social issue. It not only represents interpersonal conflict but also reflects power imbalances and traditional gender roles, where men dominate and women are expected to be submissive. Furthermore, societal norms often dictate that family shame should remain private, and parents strive to maintain family integrity, compounded by systemic inadequacies and inequalities that isolate and render women helpless when faced with domestic violence. Since 1992, HKFWC has offered a "Free Legal Advice Clinic", providing professional and free legal advice to women in need or facing marital difficulties. Each year, 26 peer counselors and 48 volunteer lawyers assist over 240 women seeking help. Peer counselor Ms. Portria Wong shared insights from her 30 years of experience, noting that women facing family issues often have multiple concerns. Before meeting with volunteer lawyers, peer counselors help women prepare questions to optimize their time during legal consultations. Emotional distress and social resource issues can be addressed with the support of social workers and peer counselors at HKFWC. Women facing domestic violence or marital issues often consider factors such as economic dependency, traditional beliefs, and children, and HKFWC provides various resources and information to help them understand their options and choose the paths that best suit them.
In the 2023-24 fiscal year, 37% of women seeking help through the "Free Legal Advice Clinic" reported experiencing domestic violence, with 48% citing psychological abuse and 21% physical abuse. Among the abused cases, only 25% had reported to the police, primarily due to the belief that only physical abuse constitutes maltreatment. Apple proposed the following recommendations regarding domestic violence issues:
Accelerate Reforms to the Family Procedure Bill
The current family court procedures are complex. HKFWC recommends that all court documents be filed and transmitted by the court to reduce failures in delivery, simplify procedures, and expedite case resolution, thereby minimizing impacts on the lives of those involved.
Emergency Support Fund
The government should establish an emergency support fund to assist victims or their families with living expenses during crises or urgent housing needs, and provide housing support, including funding for alternative accommodations as shelters and easing applications for compassionate housing separations to help women escape their abusers.
Legal Empowerment and Community Education
There is a need to enhance women's awareness of legal rights in situations involving divorce and domestic violence. Through free legal consultation services, family law seminars, and community education, women can acquire basic legal knowledge and empower themselves legally. Community efforts should focus on promoting anti-domestic violence initiatives and educating the public about different forms of domestic violence, evidence gathering, reporting procedures, and self-protection.
Mental Health Support
Women may face mental health issues due to family problems, interpersonal relationship issues, and economic pressures. To effectively detect mental health risks among women, it is recommended that the government incorporate mental health assessments into community health centres, with professionals providing basic care consultation education and referrals to local network physicians for further follow-up or specialist referrals, ensuring early identification of mental health risks and appropriate treatment.
Economic Empowerment
Most cases involve housewives who, under traditional societal norms of "men work outside, women stay home", are economically dependent on their husbands, hindering their ability to leave abusive or problematic environments. Strengthening women's economic empowerment through diverse career planning, job training, and entrepreneurial support will enable them to achieve economic independence and access more resources when crises arise.