Eleven domestic workers were taken into custody in Hong Kong following suspicions of "child destruction" and involvement in illegal abortions, local police reported. The arrested women, aged in their 30s and 40s, were apprehended after authorities discovered a human foetus, determined to be approximately 28 weeks old, at the residence of one of the workers. Investigators also uncovered what they believed to be abortion pills, which led to the identification and arrest of ten additional women.
Five of the women are facing charges, while the rest have been granted bail. One woman remains in custody as investigations proceed. If convicted of the serious charge of child destruction, the individuals could be sentenced to life in prison.
The inquiry, which began in June, was sparked by a medical emergency involving a 39-year-old domestic worker who collapsed at her employer's home. When paramedics responded, they found a foetus concealed in her laundry basket. In her confession, the domestic worker revealed she procured the pills from another foreign domestic employee, leading to her arrest in July. Subsequent operations between late July and early August resulted in further arrests.
Inspector Lam Ho-yin from the Yuen Long district crime squad noted that initial investigations did not indicate the presence of a crime syndicate. Instead, findings suggested that a 32-year-old foreign worker had allegedly imported the pills from abroad and was selling them.
While abortion is legal in Hong Kong under specific conditions, including when a pregnancy endangers the mother's life or involves severe foetal abnormalities, the law restricts procedures beyond 24 weeks. Those involved in obtaining or distributing abortion medications may face up to seven years in prison.
In light of the investigation, police have urged employers to encourage their domestic workers to seek medical advice if they suspect pregnancy. Government figures indicate that Hong Kong employs around 368,000 foreign domestic workers, predominantly from the Philippines and Indonesia, many of whom earn a minimum wage set at HK$4,990 (approximately US$636 or £473).
