A coroner yesterday urged parents not to leave children at home alone after hearing how a four-month-old girl suffocated in her playpen while her mother was out shopping.
Coroner Andrew Chan Hing-wai said: 'However short the time [of leaving children at home alone] is, it is still possible for fatal and irrevocable accidents to take place.'
He warned mother Grace Tsung Man-yee, whose only daughter died in the tragedy, of the possibility of a future criminal prosecution as she gave evidence at the inquest.
'I must warn you that what you say on oath during this inquest may be used in potential criminal prosecution, if any, against you,' Mr Chan said.
'So you can refuse to answer any question put to you if you think that would be prejudicial to you.'
Ms Tsung testified that she gave birth to Eunice Cheng Nga-yung on December 16, 1999. When the baby was six weeks old, she enlisted the help of her mother-in-law living in Sha Tin to help take care of the child.