【明報專訊】The father and stepmother of a five-year-old girl who was abused to death have been convicted of murder, while the mother of the stepmother has also been found guilty of two counts of child cruelty. The victim and her elder brother were abused for some time, but no one offered a helping hand. The case came to light three years ago and sparked public outrage. The Office of the Ombudsman once suggested that the government explore the feasibility of the mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse cases. The Law Reform Commission (LRC) also recommended that a ''failure to protect'' offence should be created to prevent child abuse. However, it remains a question when such recommendations will be implemented. Countries around the world have mechanisms for reporting child abuse, and Hong Kong can learn from their experience. The government must muster the determination to enact such laws as soon as possible.