Eleven domestic workers have been apprehended in Hong Kong amid allegations of "child destruction" and executing illegal abortions, as announced by local police. The arrests of these women, aged between 30 and 40, occurred after one was discovered with a deceased fetus in her employer's residence, which was confirmed to be at least 28 weeks into gestation.
The investigation was sparked when paramedics responded to a call for assistance from a 39-year-old domestic worker who had collapsed at her employer's home. During the medical check, first responders uncovered the fetus concealed within her laundry basket, which had not survived. Upon interrogation, the woman disclosed that she had acquired abortion pills from an acquaintance, who was also a foreign domestic worker.
Since the initial arrest in July, police have executed multiple raids from July 29 to August 8, uncovering a total of ten additional suspects. Currently, five of the arrested are facing charges, while the other five have been released on bail; one remains in custody as investigations continue. If convicted of the most severe charges, which include child destruction, the women could be staring down life sentences.
Inspector Lam Ho-yin from the Yuen Long district crime squad has indicated that this does not appear to be the operation of a trafficking syndicate. Preliminary investigations suggest that the abortion pills, allegedly sold by a 32-year-old foreign domestic helper, were smuggled from another country for distribution.
While abortion is permissible in Hong Kong under stringent conditions—such as if the mother's life is threatened or fetal abnormalities exist—it is prohibited after 24 weeks, except when the mother's health is severely at risk. Individuals involved in the sale or use of abortion-related medication could face a maximum of seven years in prison.
In response to the troubling developments, authorities have urged employers to encourage their domestic workers to seek medical counsel when facing pregnancy. Hong Kong is home to approximately 368,000 foreign domestic workers, with about 55% coming from the Philippines and 42% from Indonesia, often working for a minimum wage set by the government at HK$4,990 (US$636; £473).
