A Hong Kong court has granted a three-year protection order to baby Danny, a baby at the heart of a child welfare saga, according to the boy’s parents.
The Juvenile Court at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts held a closed-door hearing on Friday with Danny being held in the care of the Social Welfare Department (SWD). His parents were arrested on suspicion of child neglect earlier this month.
parents, Tsang Wai-bong AND Kwan Pui-sintold reporters after the hearing that the court had ordered that the baby’s protective order be extended for three years, during which the boy will remain in SWD’s custody. according to for local media reports.
The pair are part of the free birth movement, in which parents advocate giving birth without a registered medical professional. Authorities said Danny had not received any medical check-ups since birth and was not registered.
‘High risk’ of negligence
The couple said on Thursday that an expert panel convened by the SWD had recommended that Danny remain in formal custody because of a high risk of child neglect.
The couple previously said they would be willing to accept government surveillance if they could be reunited with Danny. However, the SWD rejected their proposal, they said.
They added that they will not appeal the court’s decision, but hope to be reunited with their son. Under the current arrangements, they are allowed to visit him once a week.
The family attracted public attention last month after launching a campaign called “Save Lily”. The parents are fighting over custody of their other child, Lily, who Swedish authorities took into custody in 2023 over welfare concerns.
According to the couple, a Swedish court will process a request from the local social welfare agency seeking the permanent transfer of custody of Lily to a foster family, with whom the child has lived for the past two years.
