Helper held after baby abuse allegation in Ho Man Tin
AM730 · 5 SOURCESabout 10 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A 40-year-old domestic helper was arrested on Sunday after police received a report from the father of a baby girl who was suspected to have been abused at home in Ho Man Tin. The father took the infant to Queen Elizabeth Hospital after reviewing home surveillance footage, which police believed showed the child being struck by hand. Reports identified the baby as about six months old, although one broadcaster described her as five months old. The child was conscious when sent to hospital, and doctors found no serious injury or said her condition was not a cause for concern.
Key Points
- Police received the report at Queen Elizabeth Hospital at about 10am to 10:43am on Sunday after the father sought medical help and called officers.
- The case was linked to a home on Chung Hau Street in Ho Man Tin, where the father suspected his daughter had been improperly treated by the helper.
- After checking closed-circuit television footage at home, the father believed the baby had been slapped, while one report said the helper struck her three times in two hours.
- Police said the suspect, a 40-year-old Filipina helper, was arrested on suspicion of ill-treatment or neglect by those in charge of a child or young person.
- The baby was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for examination; reports said she had body marks or a leg injury, but doctors found no major harm.
Why It Matters
The case remains under investigation, with police still examining the suspected motive and the circumstances shown in the home footage. For Hong Kong households, the reports also show how surveillance recordings and prompt hospital reporting can quickly become central to a child protection inquiry.