Eleven Domestic Workers Arrested in Hong Kong Over Illegal Abortions

Fri Oct 17 2025 13:59:32 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Eleven women taken into custody on charges of illegal abortions and child destruction following disturbing discovery at employer's residence.

Police uncovered serious allegations against a group of foreign domestic workers, raising profound concerns about reproductive rights in Hong Kong.

Eleven domestic workers have been detained in Hong Kong for their involvement in suspected illegal abortions, sparking significant legal scrutiny. The police revealed that the women, aged between 30 and 40, were arrested after authorities found a deceased foetus, estimated to be at least 28 weeks old, at the home of one of the workers.

The investigation was initiated in June when paramedics responded to an emergency involving a 39-year-old domestic worker who collapsed. Upon assisting her, they discovered the foetus hidden in a laundry basket. When questioned, the woman confessed to acquiring abortion pills from a friend, leading to her arrest in July.

Subsequent police raids conducted from July 29 to August 8 resulted in the arrest of ten additional women. Among them, five individuals face charges, while another five have been released on bail, and one is currently under custody for further inquiries. If convicted of child destruction, the most severe charge, these women face the possibility of life imprisonment.

Inspector Lam Ho-yin of the Yuen Long district crime squad noted that while the case involves multiple arrests, it does not suggest the existence of a criminal organization. Preliminary findings indicated that one foreign domestic worker may have brought the abortion-inducing drugs from another country and was allegedly distributing them.

In Hong Kong, abortion can be legally performed under strict regulations, which allow for the procedure up to 24 weeks under specific medical circumstances. Beyond this period, abortions are only permitted if the mother's life is jeopardized. Anyone convicted of facilitating or using drugs for an abortion risks severe penalties, with imprisonment up to seven years.

As this case unfolds, police are advising employers to encourage their domestic employees to consult medical professionals if they suspect they are pregnant. According to government data, Hong Kong is home to approximately 368,000 foreign domestic workers, with a large percentage hailing from the Philippines and Indonesia.