Out-Law / Your Daily Need-To-Know

A loophole in Hong Kong's legislation is allowing those possessing, producing or distributing internet child pornography to walk free, according to a report by CNN.com. It appears that, although a bill to address the issue was introduced three years ago, the Hong Kong's Legislative Council cannot agree on its wording.

Neither mainland China nor Hong Kong have, at the moment, laws covering producing, distributing or downloading internet child pornography. According to CNN.com, the Child Pornography Bill, introduced over three years ago, is stuck in a legal limbo, because of a debate on what exactly constitutes "possession" of on-line child pornography.

Under the proposed legislation, those found guilty of possessing child pornography would face up to five years imprisonment. However, legislators are reportedly concerned that the bill could give Hong Kong's law enforcement excessive powers.

The territory's Legislative Council fears that a wrong definition of "possession" could result in prosecutions of internet users who received unsolicited offensive material.

According to CNN.com, the situation has prompted calls for Hong Kong's legislative Council to speed up the passage of the proposed law.

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