How a couple lost their 3 children in as many countries and were arrested in Hong Kong
Authorities to take baby boy into protection after parents initially refuse DNA test for birth registration, with sisters also victims of a troubled history
A Hong Kong couple has drawn public scrutiny after refusing a DNA test for their baby’s registration following his birth at home, raising potential gaps in the city’s legal and child welfare system.
The infant’s father, Tsang Wai-bong, and mother, Kwan Pui-sin, subsequently underwent a DNA test, according to the police on Wednesday, a day after their arrest on suspicion of child neglect. The Social Welfare Department also applied to the court for a protection order over the two-month-old baby, Danny.
The couple’s troubled history also triggered widespread concern about their fitness as parents, with their eldest daughter having died in infancy in Finland and another child, Lily, being taken into care by Swedish social services.
The South China Morning Post unpacks the case and examines its development.
1. How did the case gain public attention?
The incident came to light on the couple’s social media page, “Save Lily”, where they uploaded family photos and documents to campaign for the return of their daughter, who was born in Finland and is currently in Sweden.