Researchers have urged Hong Kong churches to implement policies to protect victims of sexual harassment, after a survey found that many had their complaints mishandled or were too scared to come forward. The Hong Kong Christian Council’s report on anti-sexual harassment policies in churches. Photo: Hillary Leung/HKFP. The Hong Kong Christian Council’s Gender Justice Ministry published the survey findings in a report titled “It Takes a Village” on Monday. Among 73 churches surveyed last year about the implementation of sexual harassment policies, only 47 per cent said they had such guidelines.
A review of the websites of 1,154 churches found that just 7.3 per cent had anti-sexual harassment policies published online.
The researchers conducted interviews with 10 people, from victims to those who had knowledge of sexual harassment cases in churches, such as bystanders and church staff who handled complaints.
The culture and structure of churches can create “fertile ground for sexual violence,” the report said. File photo: Wikicommons. Power dynamics, as well as the culture of harmony and unity, can make it difficult for victims to come forward and for church members to raise concerns for fear of damaging relationships or provoking conflict, the report stated.
They identified at least 69 victims of sexual harassment in churches, with incidents going as far back as two decades.
“Given that victims commonly remain silent due to fear and shame, the actual number of those affected is likely far higher.” Jessica Tso, the executive secretary of the Hong Kong Christian Council, said at a press conference on Monday that three sexual assault victims were only 13 or 15 when the incidents happened.
She said they had known their alleged abuser for one or two years at the time, pointing to a pattern of sexual grooming. Jessica Tso, the executive secretary of the Hong Kong Christian Council, on July 6, 2026. Photo: Hillary Leung/HKFP. “[This is when] they have your trust, then they slowly increase… from body touch to sexual harassment,” Tso said in Cantonese. “Because of that trust, the victim finds it very hard to speak up, or even excuses it as [part of] a normal, close relationship.”
One victim, who went by the nickname Si-Yu, met a preacher at church when she was 14. She started going to church when she was 11 because she claimed she was encountering paranormal events.
Si-Yu described the preacher as the first person willing to believe her. They saw each other regularly, and Si-Yu developed deep trust in him.
Then, she said, he started to massage her shoulders, waist and hands and would insist when she declined. He also dragged her to the kitchen and kissed her.
Sex crime laws
According to the report, 100 per cent of victims who filed sexual harassment complaints with their churches were not satisfied with how the matter was handled.
Bystanders and those who handled the complaints pointed out inadequacies in the responses from the churches. The Hong Kong Christian Council’s report on anti-sexual harassment policies in churches. Photo: Hillary Leung/HKFP. One bystander called Shing-yan said that after the church received a complaint, the board only held a discussion three months later.
Tin-wai, an administrator at a church who deals with sexual harassment complaints, said there had been situations where the church appointed somebody to meet with a victim, but that person was not clear about what they actually had to do.
The researchers suggested that churches establish clear anti-sexual harassment policies to cover definitions of harassment and disciplinary measures, as well as conduct regular staff training.
They also called on church leaders to apply principles of trauma-informed care and to avoid pressuring victims to forgive or reconcile with their abusers.
Last week, the government proposed a sweeping overhaul of the city’s sex crime laws, with suggested changes including criminalising same-sex rape and establishing a uniform age of consent. Doris Chong, the executive director of NGO Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women, on July 6, 2026. Photo: Hillary Leung/HKFP. Doris Chong, the executive director of the Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women, said at the same press conference that the updated laws could make the definitions of sexual harassment and violence clearer. Some of the updates were especially relevant to a church setting, she said.
Chong highlighted the proposed addition of circumstances that could indicate a lack of consent to a sexual act, specifically, “the victim submits to the sexual act because of another person’s abuse of a position of trust or authority, or a relationship of dependency.”
Adding abuse of authority as a circumstance indicating a lack of consent to a sexual act was relevant to church settings, where power dynamics can discourage victims from speaking up, she added.