The man, surnamed Kong, was later released on HK$500 bail and told to report to police next month.

The two children, a 15-year- old girl and her nine-year-old brother, were sent to Tung Wah Hospital for a check-up and were not found to have suffered any injuries.

The mother made the call after visiting the flat in Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai, where the children live with their father.

Barrister Albert Luk Wai-hung told The Standard it is illegal for parents or guardians to leave a child under 16 alone at home, regardless of how clever or mature he or she may be.

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"However, the sentence, should a parent be prosecuted for child neglect, depends on the length of time the child or children are left unattended and whether any injury had been inflicted during this time alone," Luk added.

Last week, a 47-year-old grandmother was bound over on a bond of HK$2,000 for 12 months in Eastern Magistracy for leaving her four-year-old granddaughter alone in their first-floor flat in Sheung Wan on July 4.

The child climbed out of the window and was found sitting on the extendable canvas canopy above the street. She suffered bruises and cuts and had to be rescued by firemen. DIANA LEE