Influence of Internet usage on youth

Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and an oral reply by the acting Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Arthur Ng, in the Legislative Council today (June 7):


Question:


It is reported that an increasing number of adolescents are engaging in online chatting on the Internet, some have become indulgent and some even become acquainted with undesirable elements and become crime victims. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:


(a) of the respective numbers of crime cases related to online chatting reported and cracked down in the past year, broken down by the type of cases;


(b) whether it has studied how adolescents are affected in respect of their mental and intellectual developments, communication skills and interpersonal relationship by their indulgence in such online chatting; if it has, of the results; if it has not, whether it will do so; and


(c) of the measures taken to assist parents and adolescents in adopting a correct attitude t...