A three-year-old girl endured four harrowing days alone with her mother's corpse in a Ngau Tau Kok public housing flat before being rescued on Friday morning.

The ordeal came to light at 11.20am when residents of Lok Wah (North) Estate's Ping Wah House reported hearing a child's cries.

Security personnel, unable to get a response after knocking, alerted Housing Department staff who then called police over concerns of potential child abuse.

Officers discovered the scene at the 40-year-old mother's flat - the woman, who had a history of asthma, was confirmed dead at the scene. Medical examination suggested she had passed away approximately four days earlier.

It is understood that the toddler showed no visible injuries and remained conscious, having survived by eating dry food in the apartment. Neighbors reported hearing the girl banging on the metal gate and crying in the preceding days.

Sources said the child was in stable condition when first responders found her, with police now classifying the case as "dead body found" with no criminal elements involved.

The young survivor was transported to United Christian Hospital under the care of social workers and her kindergarten teacher.

The deceased woman's mother arrived later to assist authorities with their investigation.

Toddler found with deceased mom after days alone