Dear ICS Community,

“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked”(Psalm 82:3-4).

This mandate is at the very core of our mission as a Christian community. At ICS, we often speak of the "Warrior Spirit" in the context of excellence and resilience. However, the most vital battle we engage in is the one that ensures every child in our care is safe, seen, and protected. 

As we look toward 20 January 2026, when the new Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance officially comes into force in Hong Kong, we do so with a spirit of readiness and deep responsibility.

A Unified Effort in Preparation

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the leaders and colleagues across our school who have committed themselves so fully to preparing for this law.  It’s been a collective effort that started last year with a government briefing the safeguarding team attended in winter last year, as well as work throughout last year to lay groundwork for this current year. 

Strengthening our Common Language and Culture

To ensure we are a community aware of and committed to safeguarding, every faculty and staff member began this year by signing a Safeguarding Code of Conduct, pledging their personal commitment to being a shield for our students after our annual kick-off training on safeguarding.  This was done during our pre-service week where we looked ahead to the new law.  

This continued with work building out systems and processes, as well as key people taking government training on child protection and mandatory reporting.  We had both colleagues who are mandatory reporters and other people who work closely with children or colleagues who must report serious harm take the training.  This enables us to build an even stronger support system and school culture around reporting concerns.

Systems Built on Stewardship and Commitment

To support our staff, we have aligned our internal reporting systems with the government’s new protocols. As the Hong Kong government’s systems and digital platforms may evolve following the launch, we are committed to remaining agile and updating our processes when needed. This can help us respond most effectively when a concern arises that requires a response.