Severe abuse can leave lasting mental scars and behavioural problems in children, psychologists have warned after two toddlers in Hong Kong were allegedly confined in a dog cage, a case that sparked public outrage and renewed calls for earlier reporting and intervention. The calls for action came as the latest official statistics showed that more…
Hong Kong police have arrested a domestic helper on suspicion of child abuse after she allegedly put two young boys inside a dog cage in a Tsing Yi flat. Police said they received a report at 1.34pm on Tuesday from the 26-year-old mother of the boys, aged two and three, who alleged that her helper…
A Hong Kong court has granted further leniency to a senior Immigration Department assistant, placing him on a one-year probation order after he was convicted of repeatedly choking his wife and young son during domestic disputes. Kowloon City Court heard on Wednesday that the 49-year-old defendant, identified as “ATK”, preferred probation to community service because…
A 41-year-old mother in Hong Kong has been charged with abuse and negligence after her 12-year-old son reported her to police for beating him with a rattan cane, the South China Morning Post learned. The woman was arrested on Saturday from a flat at Kam Fung House in Wong Tai Sin after her son called…
Anna Lee*, a Hongkonger in her forties, first realised the profound impact of the violence she experienced as a child when she became a mother herself. As she raised her two children, now aged seven and 10, she was alarmed to find her emotional reactions mirroring the volatility of her own childhood. “I found the…
One of two domestic helpers in Hong Kong earlier arrested for allegedly abusing two small boys faces a holding charge of ill-treatment after one of the children, a four-month-old infant, was hospitalised with a brain haemorrhage and injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome. Chief Inspector Tam Ching-shan of the Tai Po district crime unit said…
Hong Kong police are investigating a child abuse report after a runner took part in a marathon while carrying his baby, the Post has learned. The investigation was launched after a viral video showing the baby strapped to the runner’s chest during the race sparked public concern. A source said on Wednesday that police received…
Hong Kong police have arrested two women on suspicion of child abuse, as a father took to social media to accuse a domestic helper of shaking his four-month-old son, causing a brain haemorrhage and bodily harm. The force on Tuesday night confirmed that it had arrested two women, aged 28 and 45, suspected of ill-treating…
Hong Kong mother Amy Chan* often feels overwhelmed caring for her nine-year-old son, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The 39-year-old said her son, diagnosed with the condition two years ago, seldom listened to her and lost his temper easily, putting tremendous pressure on her and taking a toll on her mental health. Chan,…
Hong Kong professionals mandated to report suspected child abuse cases under a new law taking effect on Tuesday are largely ready, but some have said challenges remain in working with parents from different cultural backgrounds and detecting online crimes targeting youngsters. Under the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance, more than 100,000 people across 25…