Hong Kong minister defends two-month wait for disclosure of alleged nursing home rape case

On By Yukito

The Hong Kong minister defended the decision to postpone two months earlier revealing a case of suspected sexual assault at a nursing home run by the city’s largest non-governmental organization for people with intellectual disabilities, stating that the authorities had to take into account the victims and their families.

Labor and Welfare Secretary Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Thursday that the government had to choose the right time to present details of the Hong Chi Association case. Authorities revealed a day earlier that a staff member at a nursing home run by the non-governmental organization had been arrested, and a source said the suspect had been charged with raping a resident and sexually assaulting a resident.

“It is very important to ensure that the emotions and mental state of both victims and their families are stable and that they can accept the disclosure of the incident,” Sun said.

“They have already been injured and we must ensure that no more happens to them. So we have to choose our time carefully.”

He also promised to take up the matter and note that he met with the board and chairman of the association.

The association’s chairman is Edward Yau Tang-wah, former secretary of commerce and economic development.