The Government has published the Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2021 (the Bill) in the Gazette today (March 19). The Bill seeks to introduce specific offences against voyeurism, non-consensual recording of intimate parts and publication of intimate images without consent.
A spokesman for the Security Bureau said, "The Review of Sexual Offences Sub-committee of the Law Reform Commission (LRC) published the Report on Voyeurism and Non-consensual Upskirt-Photography in April 2019, recommending the introduction of offences against relevant acts. The Government accepts the LRC's recommendations and had launched a three-month public consultation in July 2020. The public generally supported the legislative proposals."
The spokesman said, "After considering of the views from the public and the Panel on Security of the Legislative Council, the Government proposes amendments to the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200) to introduce specific offences against voyeurism, non-consensual recording of intimate parts and publication of intimate images without consent. The new offences each carry a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment. The Government also proposes to provide in the legislation that it is a defence for a person charged for any one of the proposed new offences (excluding offences committed for a sexual purpose) to establish that the person had lawful authority or reasonable excuse for the contravention."
The Government will introduce the Bill into the Legislative Council on March 24 for First and Second Reading.
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