The Regional Crime Unit Team 5 of Kowloon West (RCU 5 KW) held a seminar on child protection and anti-compensated dating at KW Regional Headquarters on June 24. The event drew the participation of principals, teachers, discipline teachers, social workers and parents of students from secondary schools in Sham Shui Po and Mong Kok Districts.

The seminar, which was one of the activities of "Operation WHALEDIVER", aimed to increase teenagers' understanding of relevant legislation through their teachers and parents before the summer holiday.

Senior Superintendent of Crime KW Headquarters Ng Wing-sze gave a welcoming speech and introduced "Operation WHALEDIVER" and the purpose of the seminar to the participants. Afterwards, Chief Inspector Fung Ngar-jing of RCU 5 KW explained how teenagers could meet strangers through social media and be lured into compensated dating and prostitution. She also talked about ways to prevent teenagers from falling into online traps of compensated dating as well as the relevant laws. Moreover, the seminar covered the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol on teenagers. School personnel and parents need to keep a watch on the behaviour of youngsters and timely intervene if necessary.

Towards the end of the seminar, Ms Ng Wing-sze presented certificates of appreciation to the school representatives for their participation in the event. The event enabled the school personnel and parents to learn more about online traps of compensated dating and the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol on teenagers. The participants promised to continue to support the Police to fight such crimes.