Domestic Workers Arrested for Illegal Abortions in Hong Kong

Eleven domestic workers in Hong Kong were arrested for illegal abortions after police discovered a deceased fetus during a health emergency, leading to further investigations and multiple charges against the women.

Eleven domestic workers have been apprehended in Hong Kong amid an investigation into illegal abortions and allegations of "child destruction," according to police statements. The arrests were initiated after officers found a dead fetus, confirmed to be at least 28 weeks old, following a medical incident at a worker’s employer's residence. Drugs suspected to be abortion pills were also uncovered, prompting authorities to trace and arrest ten other women.

Five of the women have been formally charged, while the others are on bail or remain in custody pending further inquiries. If convicted of child destruction, the most severe charge, they could face life imprisonment. The investigation sparked in June when paramedics attended to a collapsed 39-year-old domestic worker; during this incident, the fetus was found concealed within a laundry basket in her room and had not been born alive.

This worker admitted to procuring the pills from an acquaintance—another foreign domestic worker—leading to her arrest in July. Subsequent police raids from late July to early August resulted in eight additional arrests. Inspector Lam Ho-yin of the Yuen Long district crime division indicated that early findings do not suggest a formal crime syndicate; rather, they point to a 32-year-old foreign domestic helper allegedly trafficking the pills from abroad.

Details regarding the specific charges against each woman remain undisclosed, as their nationalities have also not been revealed. In Hong Kong, abortion is legally permitted but strictly regulated—allowed until 24 weeks of gestation only under certain conditions, including risk to the mother's life or severe fetal abnormalities. Abortions after 24 weeks can only be conducted if the mother's life is at immediate risk. Individuals engaging in the provision or utilization of abortion drugs face a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

In light of these events, police have urged employers to encourage their domestic helpers to seek medical advice if they discover they are pregnant. Government statistics estimate that Hong Kong is home to around 368,000 foreign domestic workers, primarily from the Philippines and Indonesia, with many earning the mandated minimum wage of HK$4,990 (approximately US$636 or £473).