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Leopold Chen

A Hong Kong couple has lodged a complaint with the United Nations over an alleged breach of human rights after Swedish authorities applied to permanently transfer the legal guardianship of their daughter to a local foster family.
Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin said on Tuesday that they had filed the complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee regarding Sweden’s handling of their four-year-old daughter, Lily.
The couple’s three-month-old son, Danny, was placed in the care of Hong Kong social welfare authorities for three years amid allegations of child neglect.
The unmarried couple alleged that Swedish authorities had subjected Lily to arbitrary care and deprived her of family life, while denying them a fair trial.
“The core demand is to have Sweden release! U[Lily]!,” Tsang told the South China Morning Post.
“If the guardianship is transferred, her legal guardians may apply for a Swedish residence permit or passport for her … we then risk losing our daughter.”
The committee comprises independent experts who monitor UN member countries’ implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The move by Lily’s parents followed a court application in June by Swedish social welfare authorities to permanently transfer her guardianship to a local foster family, with whom she has been living since May 2024.




According to Tsang and Kwan, the court had suggested deciding the case on the basis of written submissions. They objected and demanded a hearing on July 1, but had not heard back from the court.
Swedish authorities had also assigned legal representatives to them, but the lawyers made submissions to the court without consulting the couple, they added.
Tsang said the couple would not appear before the court in person if a hearing was arranged.
Instead, they called on the Hong Kong Immigration Department to get involved as an interested party.
“I hope the Immigration Department can issue her a Hong Kong passport with its discretionary powers,” Tsang said, adding that this would help Lily leave Sweden and go to Hong Kong.
Tsang said the department had not confirmed whether it would act on the couple’s wishes and had merely told them that officers had been in touch with their Swedish counterparts.
Lily was born to Tsang and Kwan at their home in Finland in October 2021.
Their eldest daughter, Constance, who was also born at home, died at the age of one month in 2019.
Finnish authorities declined to register Lily’s birth on the grounds that her parents’ permanent address was in Hong Kong. The couple were also wanted for alleged negligence over Constance’s death, prompting them to move to Sweden.

In December 2023, the couple were arrested in Sweden on suspicion of laundering 1 million Swedish kronor (US$103,000). Lily was subsequently placed in the care of social welfare authorities.
Although the money laundering case was later dropped, the dispute over Lily continued.
The case came to light through Tsang and Kwan’s social media page “Save Lily” earlier this year.
In June, the Swedish court threw out Tsang and Kwan’s judicial challenge against the authorities’ plans to transfer Lily’s legal guardianship, saying a challenge could not be filed before an actual decision had been made.
The SCMP has reached out to the Immigration Department for comment.


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Kwan Pui-sin and Tsang Wai-bong are embroiled in a legal dispute with Swedish authorities over the custody of their four-year-old daughter, Lily. Photo: Handout

Tsang (left) and Kwan also have a son, three-month-old Danny, who has been placed in the care of Hong Kong social welfare authorities for three years. Photo: Sun Yeung

Hong Kong parents may lose battle over daughter Lily amid fight for baby Danny

Hong Kong couple Tsang Wai-bong (right) and Kwan Pui-sin have been at the centre of a controversial cross-border child welfare case involving their three children. Photo: Handout

Kwan Pui-sin and Tsang Wai-bong with Lily. The couple say Swedish authorities have yet to arrange her return to Hong Kong despite the 2024 deportation order. Photo: Handout

Parents of baby Danny to get 1-hour weekly visits, list 3 possible outcomes

Tsang Wai-bong (left) and Kwan Pui-sin show off Danny’s birth certificate from the Immigration Department. Photo: Dickson Lee

Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin are scheduled to meet government social workers and be granted supervised visits with Danny this week. Photo: Dickson Lee

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Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin appeal to UN Human Rights Committee over Swedish authorities’ handling of four-year-old Lily in custody dispute


Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin appeal to UN Human Rights Committee over Swedish authorities’ handling of four-year-old Lily in custody dispute.


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Hong Kong’s Immigration Department

Hong Kong couple files complaint with UN over Swedish custody plans for daughter

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin appeal to UN Human Rights Committee over Swedish authorities’ handling of four-year-old Lily in custody dispute

Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin appeal to UN Human Rights Committee over Swedish authorities’ handling of four-year-old Lily in custody dispute