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Eleven domestic workers have been apprehended in Hong Kong on allegations of illegal abortions and "child destruction," as confirmed by local police. The group, consisting of women in their 30s and 40s, came under scrutiny following the discovery of a deceased foetus in a private residence, identified to be at least 28 weeks old.
The chain of events began when paramedics were summoned to assist a 39-year-old domestic worker who had collapsed. Upon arrival, they uncovered a foetus concealed in a laundry basket in her living quarters. Following her admission of purchasing abortion pills from a friend—another domestic worker—the investigation escalated, leading to her arrest in July. Subsequent raids conducted from late July to early August resulted in the detention of ten additional women.
Currently, five individuals have been formally charged, another five have secured bail, and one remains in custody as the investigation progresses. Should they be found guilty of the most severe charge of child destruction, they could face life imprisonment.
Police Inspector Lam Ho-yin indicated that this incident does not appear to be part of a larger criminal enterprise. Preliminary inquiries suggest that the pills in question were purportedly smuggled back from another country by a 32-year-old foreign domestic helper who allegedly sold them to others.
In Hong Kong, abortion is legally permitted only under restrictive conditions, specifically when the pregnancy threatens the mother’s life or health, or in cases of significant foetal abnormality; any abortion past 24 weeks requires dire circumstances involving the mother's health. Offenders supplying or utilizing abortion drugs may incur penalties of up to seven years in prison.
As a preventative measure, police have called on employers to encourage their domestic staff to seek medical advice if they suspect they are pregnant. Current statistics indicate that there are approximately 368,000 foreign domestic workers residing in Hong Kong, a majority of whom come from the Philippines and Indonesia, often earning a minimum wage set by the government.
Eleven domestic workers have been apprehended in Hong Kong on allegations of illegal abortions and "child destruction," as confirmed by local police. The group, consisting of women in their 30s and 40s, came under scrutiny following the discovery of a deceased foetus in a private residence, identified to be at least 28 weeks old.
The chain of events began when paramedics were summoned to assist a 39-year-old domestic worker who had collapsed. Upon arrival, they uncovered a foetus concealed in a laundry basket in her living quarters. Following her admission of purchasing abortion pills from a friend—another domestic worker—the investigation escalated, leading to her arrest in July. Subsequent raids conducted from late July to early August resulted in the detention of ten additional women.
Currently, five individuals have been formally charged, another five have secured bail, and one remains in custody as the investigation progresses. Should they be found guilty of the most severe charge of child destruction, they could face life imprisonment.
Police Inspector Lam Ho-yin indicated that this incident does not appear to be part of a larger criminal enterprise. Preliminary inquiries suggest that the pills in question were purportedly smuggled back from another country by a 32-year-old foreign domestic helper who allegedly sold them to others.
In Hong Kong, abortion is legally permitted only under restrictive conditions, specifically when the pregnancy threatens the mother’s life or health, or in cases of significant foetal abnormality; any abortion past 24 weeks requires dire circumstances involving the mother's health. Offenders supplying or utilizing abortion drugs may incur penalties of up to seven years in prison.
As a preventative measure, police have called on employers to encourage their domestic staff to seek medical advice if they suspect they are pregnant. Current statistics indicate that there are approximately 368,000 foreign domestic workers residing in Hong Kong, a majority of whom come from the Philippines and Indonesia, often earning a minimum wage set by the government.
