The Government announced today that the Sexual Conviction Record Check (SCRC) Scheme is being expanded to cover prospective self-employed persons, in order to strengthen the protection of children and mentally-incapacitated persons (MIPs).

Prospective self-employed persons include private tutors, music teachers, sports coaches and persons providing door-to-door services. The SCRC Scheme remains voluntary in nature and employers may decide whether record checks are necessary after assessing the risks.

Applicants can submit application forms and supporting documents, enquire about their application status and pay application fees via the Police Force Online Applications Platform.

In addition to the SCRC Office at the Police Headquarters, a 24-hour fingerprint-taking service is available at six police stations throughout Hong Kong: North Point, Yau Ma Tei, Ngau Tau Kok, Tuen Mun, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan.

The validity period of applications submitted from today onwards will be extended from 18 months to 36 months to reduce reapplications and renewal applications.

The Government launched the SCRC Scheme in 2011 to enable employers of persons undertaking child-related or MIP-related work to check whether prospective employees have any criminal conviction records against a specified list of sexual offences.

The scheme formerly covered prospective employees, contract renewal staff, and staff assigned by outsourced service providers to other organisations, who apply for child-related or MIP-related work.

The Government will consider further expansion of the scheme to cover all volunteers. The ultimate goal is for the scheme to cover all existing employees and self-employed people.