Editorial | Hong Kong minority groups need community support
- The tragic case of a woman of Indian origin who is suspected of killing her three young daughters, shows once again that the city government and society in general must be alert to the mental health needs of all
Every family tragedy has a complex story behind it. While the circumstances surrounding the alleged murder of three young girls by their mother in a Sham Shui Po subdivided flat on Monday are understandably a topic of discussion in society, questions have also been raised whether it could have been prevented by better care and support services for families in need of help.
It would do well for the government to review the current approach and fill the gaps.
This horrific tale was the second tragedy in four days, after the frenzied stabbing murders of two young women in a shopping centre by a mentally ill man last Friday. In the latest case, the 29-year-old mother, of ethnic minority origin and with no record of mental illness, has been charged with three counts of murder.
She missed her first court appearance on Wednesday as her mental state was said to be unstable following the deaths of her daughters.
Unrelated as they are, the two incidents have put the spotlight on the services for the mentally distressed. What sets the latest tragedy apart is the background of the family.