Hong Kong parents who refuse DNA test for child’s birth registration arrested

Security minister says mother of two-month-old Danny has so far been unable to provide any prenatal check-up or medical records

Social welfare authorities have applied for a protection order for a baby without documentation after Hong Kong police arrested his parents, who are refusing a DNA test for his registration on privacy grounds.

The couple were detained on Tuesday following an intervention by the city’s welfare minister, who said authorities only received an email reply from them on Monday evening after five days of unsuccessful attempts to contact them.

The Social Welfare Department said on Tuesday night that it had applied to the court for a protection order in the boy’s best interests, while professionals had developed a care plan for him.

Earlier, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Pin-keung said that police had arrested the parents in Cheung Sha Wan on suspicion of child neglect, and that the two-month-old boy, named Danny, had been sent to hospital for a health check.

“The individuals claiming to be the parents previously contacted the Immigration Department, asserting that Danny is their biological child born at home,” Tang said.

“However, during our investigation, we requested evidence to prove their biological relationship with Danny, and the mother has so far been unable to provide any prenatal check-up or medical records.”