Police arrest domestic workers after finding 28-week preborn baby’s body in laundry

Eleven migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong have been arrested after police found the body of a third-trimester baby in a laundry basket in one worker’s room.

Key Takeaways:

• Paramedics responded to assist a migrant domestic worker who had collapsed at her employer’s home. They found the body of a 28-week-old preborn child in her laundry.

• Police were called, and an investigation led to the arrests of 10 other women for illegally dispensing abortion drugs.

• The women face charges that include child destruction and illegal abortion.

• It is believed that the workers thought they would be fired if their employers found out they were pregnant, but the law protects pregnant workers.

The Details:

Police were called to the scene at a private home in June, where paramedics were helping a domestic worker who had collapsed at her employer’s residence following what is now suspected to have been an abortion. The paramedics found the body of a 28-week-old preborn baby in a laundry basket in the worker’s room.

“On arrival, ambulance personnel discovered a fetus in a laundry basket beside the helper’s bed. The fetus was about 35cm [13.8 inches] in length, with no sign of life,” said Inspector Lam Ho-yin of Yuen Long police district crime squad.

When questioned, the woman admitted to having bought pills suspected to be abortion pills from a friend. The baby is not believed to have been born alive. Police also found a positive pregnancy test and the packaging for the suspected abortion drugs.

Her arrest in July led to the arrest of eight more women on suspicion of “child destruction” and illegal abortions as police carried out a series of raids between July 29 and August 8. One woman was arrested at an airport for suspicion of selling similar abortion drugs and a substance classified as a Part 1 poison to other foreign domestic workers between May 2024 and May 2025, according to Lam. “[Upon a] search of her workplace, officers found 10 abortion pills and related packaging,” he said.

A total of 11 workers have been arrested. Five have been charged, five are out on bail, and one remains in custody as the investigation moves forward. If found guilty of child destruction, the women could face a life sentence.

Hong Kong Police Force

@hkpoliceforce

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🚨ILLEGAL ABORTION-RELATED ARRESTS On JUL 29–AUG 8, HKPF arrested 11 #ForeignDomesticHelpers: 1️⃣—for🔴CHILD DESTRUCTION 9️⃣—for🔴ADMINISTERING DRUGS TO PROCURE ABORTION ➕ 1️⃣—for🔴SUPPLYING DRUGS TO THE🔟👤WITH INTENT TO CAUSE ABORTION—at @hkairport upon her✈️return from Indonesia

1:45 PM · Aug 8, 2025

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Although it is unclear as to the charges against each individual woman, they were allegedly selling illegal abortion pills or committing abortions unlawfully.

Abortion is legal in Hong Kong before 24 weeks, if the mother’s physical or mental health is at risk, and in cases of fetal diagnosis. After 24 weeks, an abortion is legal if the mother’s life is considered to be in danger. The abortions must be carried out at a designated facility or hospital by doctors.

Police said they don’t believe the women were running a scheme.

Eman Villanueva, a spokesman for the Asian Migrants’ Co-ordinating Body, said migrant workers may be afraid of losing their jobs if their employers find out they are pregnant. He believes it is likely that the workers are unaware that the law protects them from being fired for pregnancy and that they are entitled to maternity leave. “Especially the newcomers,” he said. “They are not familiar with the local laws and their rights.”

The Bottom Line:

Women, especially those considered to be underprivileged, are often pressured into aborting their babies or are afraid of professional repercussions if their employers find out they are pregnant.

Abortion pills kill preborn babies of all ages, including babies who might otherwise survive outside the womb. They also carry risks for women that increase as gestational age increases, including hemorrhage, incomplete abortion, infection, and death.

The woman who took the abortion drugs at 28 weeks and gave birth to her stillborn baby before collapsing likely experienced complications, and may also experience trauma as a result of seeing her dead baby.

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