Abandoned boy raises Hong Kong cross-border issues
- Better arrangements must be made for children born in Hong Kong to non-permanent residents from the mainland after mother leaves 12-year-old son alone in city, apparently so he could get a better education
It is hard not to feel sorry for 12-year-old Chen Healton, who was abandoned by his mainland mother in Hong Kong last week, apparently in the hope that he would receive a better education in the city where he was born. The case has understandably renewed concerns about children with mainland parents who are both non-permanent residents.
It also underscores wider cross-border issues that warrant deeper reflection from authorities on both sides.
The boy was found wandering in Kwong Wah Hospital in Yau Ma Tei last Friday. An investigation showed the mother and son had crossed the border via the high-speed railway on July 18.
The mother later took the boy to the hospital and left him there. She had apparently told her son to explain to hospital staff that he was abandoned by his mother there, according to a police source.
Child abandonment involves complex issues. While it is no doubt unacceptable and unlawful, it is often a difficult decision for parents to make.
Without knowing more about the boy’s family background, it is hard to pass any judgment at this stage. But it seems intriguing if better education was the sole reason.
In fact, tens of thousands of children born to non-permanent resident parents are studying here. They usually live nearby across the border and come to school every day.
We do not know whether Chen’s parents are familiar with the arrangements for cross-border pupils, nor do we know the circumstances of his family.
The case must now be handled with care. The mother has reportedly told the police that she is willing to come and pick up her son.
Mother of abandoned boy, 12, ‘willing to return to Hong Kong’ to pick him up
But as experts have pointed out, the welfare of the boy must come first. Questions have been raised about whether it is suitable for him to reunite with his family under such circumstances.
The local authorities are right to seek a court order for protection at this stage, pending a more detailed welfare plan for the boy.
This pool of locally born mainlanders need not be a burden to our society. Given the changing demographics, perhaps the city could benefit by tapping into this group with some suitable arrangements.
The authorities should work with their mainland counterparts to see how the existing policies could be further improved.
