Hong Kong police said Tuesday it would start implementing the Sexual Conviction Record Check scheme on Dec. 1, which will provide employers with a reliable channel to check whether applicants applying for work relating to children or mentally incapacitated people have any sexual conviction records.

Under Secretary for Security of the city's government Lai Tung-kwok said the process will be simple and bound by the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, adding while the scheme aims to protect children and mentally incapacitated people, it will also consider the needs of rehabilitated offenders.

It will cover jobs providing services mainly for children or mentally incapacitated people, working in premises that provide services for these people, or involving frequent or regular contact, in particular unmonitored contact, with these people.

Under the scheme, employers of organizations or enterprises in Hong Kong can request the prospective employees undergo the check.

The scheme does not cover conviction records of sexual offenses that are regarded as "spent" under section two of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Ordinance and overseas conviction records.

Prospective employees should submit the application for the check voluntarily to Police.

Lai said the Hong Kong government will review the scheme after six months, and consider extending it to current employees and private tutors.

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