A 38-year-old woman has been charged with a child abuse offence after her four-year-old daughter was found to have a total of 11 bruises and injuries on her body. The girl had lost consciousness in a bathtub home on Saturday and was sent to hospital.
The case was mentioned at Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts on Monday. The suspect faces one count of ill-treatment or neglect by those in charge of child or young person. She was granted bail pending trial next month.
The girl was living with her mother and two senior brothers at a private residential building in Kowloon City, local media reported. A police report was received from the girl’s brother on Saturday after the girl was found unconscious in a water-filled bathtub. She was then admitted to hospital.
Medics later found there were multiple suspicious bruises on the girl’s upper body, arms and legs, reporting the matter to police who arrested the mother on the same day.
The girl remains in a critical condition at Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. The two brothers – who had no suspected injuries – were entrusted to relatives for care.
The Social Welfare Department told Ming Pao that the department had not identified, nor followed up, with the family involved. But it added that social workers from the department will reach out to the family and develop a welfare plan for the girl.
Increasing number of child abuse cases
The Police Force revealed on March 13 that the city has seen increasing number of child abuse cases.
Hong Kong recorded 1,349 child abuse cases last year, a 12.3 per cent rise compared to the figure in 2022. Among all the cases, around half involved sexual abuse, while the other half involved physical abuse.
The government is seeking to pass the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Bill, which will require professionals – including child care workers and teachers – to report suspected cases of child abuse.
Those who fail to make a report could face a fine of HK$50,000 and three months of imprisonment.
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