In Hong Kong, eleven domestic workers have reportedly been arrested on suspicion of "child destruction" and involvement in illegal abortions. The arrests stemmed from a grim discovery made when a 39-year-old domestic worker collapsed at her employer’s residence; paramedics found a deceased fetus, later determined to be at least 28 weeks old, hidden in her belongings. Following this incident, police initiated an investigation to trace other individuals involved.
Through the probe, authorities uncovered alleged abortion pills associated with the accused, leading to the arrest of ten other women between late July and early August. While five of the women have been formally charged, five are currently out on bail, and one remains in custody as investigations continue. Under Hong Kong law, if found guilty of the most severe charge, they could face life imprisonment.
The investigation first began in June when paramedics responded to the domestic worker's medical emergency. Upon questioning, the woman revealed she had sourced the pills from a fellow foreign worker. Inspector Lam Ho-yin noted that this does not appear to involve a crime syndicate; rather, it seems one individual imported these pills from abroad and allegedly sold them to the others.
While abortion remains legal in Hong Kong, it is heavily regulated, permitted solely under specific circumstances including threats to the mother’s health or severe fetal abnormalities. Abortions beyond 24 weeks are authorized only if the mother’s life is endangered. Those found guilty of supplying or utilizing abortion drugs may face prison sentences of up to seven years.
In light of these events, the police have reached out to employers, encouraging them to prompt their domestic workers to seek medical advice if they suspect they might be pregnant. Hong Kong is home to approximately 368,000 foreign domestic workers, predominantly hailing from the Philippines and Indonesia, many of whom receive the government-mandated minimum wage of HK$4,990 (around US$636).
