Dad held after 'weed candies' leave two young daughters ill

A 25-year-old father was arrested yesterday for neglect after his two young daughters allegedly ate weed candies he left on the table at their home in Tin Shui Wai.

The sisters, aged two and four, were still in serious condition at Tuen Mun Hospital after they were found foaming at the mouth on Sunday night.

Their father, Chan, a construction worker, was arrested for ill treatment or neglect of children and possession of a suspected dangerous drug.

A 48-year-old aunt of the two girls was also arrested for neglect as police said she accidentally fed the weed candies to the girls.

The mother of the girls, who is getting a divorce and living separately from the family, called the police to the hospital yesterday. She told police that Chan put some weed candies on a table and the girls took the dangerous drug accidentally.

Chan was also at the hospital when officers arrived and was arrested.

"My daughters are still unconscious. Their pupils have dilated," the mother said.

She added that police told her the girls had taken a significant dose of cannabis that even adults could not handle. She called Chan inhuman and wanted to bar him from visiting their daughters.

The mother also said she is preparing a public housing unit in which her daughters can live with her. "I can't imagine why this accident happened a month before we reunite," she said, adding she had hired a helper to take care of the girls at Chan's home and gave money to his father-in-law.

It is understood that the girls ate the weed candies on Sunday and were sent to Tin Shui Wai Hospital at 11pm before being transferred to Tuen Mun Hospital.

Sources said doctors at Tuen Mun Hospital suspected the girls took toxic substances.

Chan admitted that he possessed weed candies at home and the two girls might have eaten them.

Doctors suspected the two girls might have taken other dangerous drugs apart from the weed candies after observing their symptoms, sources said.

Police officers investigating the case but did not find weed candies in Chan's apartment.

A pediatrician and Hong Kong Medical Association council member, Alvin Chan Yee-shing, said yesterday people may suffer from illusions and confusion after taking marijuana.

And children are expected to suffer more serious side effects from taking cannabis, he added.

Chan reminded parents to be careful and keep drugs and weed candies away from their children.

Pediatrician David Lee Ka-Yan also told The Standard yesterday that young children will suffer from illusions and memory loss after taking weed products, just like adults.

But it is unknown how much cannabis the two girls had taken.

Lee also urged the public to enhance awareness of drug safety, as some of the medications look like candies and children may take them by accident.

Although there are childproof bottles for some drugs, children can still manage to open them, he said, adding all dangerous drugs must be locked away.

Cannabidiol products have been banned since February under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.

Any person trafficking and selling the drug could be sentenced to life imprisonment and fined HK$5 million. Possession and consumption of substances will also be subject to up to seven years behind bars and a HK$1 million fine.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com