Former HK priest charged with abuse

Hong Kong has about 250,000 Catholics

A former Hong Kong Roman Catholic priest has appeared in court accused of sexually abusing a boy 11 years ago.

Michael Lau, 42, has been charged with three counts of indecent assault and one of procuring an act of gross indecency.

Mr Lau, who was a trainee priest at the time but now works as an insurance agent, was arrested last month following allegations that he assaulted a 15-year-old boy at a boys' school in 1991 and 1992.

No plea was taken and Mr Lau was released on bail of $385 (HK $3,000).

The case was adjourned for three weeks.

Police have been investigating a series of allegations against priests in Hong Kong, but Mr Lau is the first serving or non-serving priest to be charged.

The Church has been referring serious cases to the police, after acknowledging it had previously failed to adequately handle some of the allegations.

It now says it is adopting a "zero tolerance" policy toward sexual abuse of children.

There are about a quarter of a million Roman Catholics in Hong Kong and the Church runs more than 300 schools and nurseries. About 300 priests work in the former British colony.