Over 90 percent of the over 6,000 submissions that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government collected during a public consultation called for stronger laws against sexual offenses, the city’s security chief said on Friday.

Hong Kong legislation related to sexual offenses has not been updated for decades. The SAR government on July 7 launched a monthlong public consultation on improving the laws on sexual offenses in the city. The consultation ended on Wednesday.

The improvements aim to amend provisions lacking clarity and certainty, and modify penalties of some sexual offenses that are not fully compatible with the gravity of such acts, among other identified problems.

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At a news conference on Friday afternoon, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said the public opinions covered various aspects of the proposed amendments, including nonconsensual sexual offenses involving children and people with mental disabilities, and measures to strengthen protection for victims of sexual offenses.

As for reviewing “mistaken belief in consent” as grounds for acquittal in suspected sexual-assault cases, Tang said that the authority has taken note of the various public views, and believes that the current amendment already listed 11 circumstances in which a victim does not consent, which should address such misunderstandings. “The government will study in detail whether there is room for further improvement,” he said.

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On the subject of whether deepfake images should be classified as sexual offenses, Tang said the Crimes Ordinance already contains provisions covering offenses involving deepfake images, and Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok is leading a committee dedicated to identify offenses related to artificial intelligence.

The government aims to submit the legislative amendment proposals in the form of an amendment bill to the Legislative Council for consideration by the end of the year, and complete the legislative exercise of improving the laws within the current government term, by mid-2027, Tang said.

In an earlier statement, lawmaker Elizabeth Quat said that the sexual-offense legislation is inadequate to address new types of crimes. She said the amendment would be the most comprehensive review in decades and can help strengthen protection for women, children, and vulnerable groups.

The Society for Community Organization said the refinement of laws on sexual offenses is a pressing issue for the city, and the group believes the proposed amendment would enhance legal protection for children.

Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com