Hong Kong lawmakers have called on the government to intervene in the case of an infant left in legal limbo after his parents refused DNA testing required for a birth certificate on privacy and religious grounds following a home birth.

The legislators also said on Monday that the parents’ actions deviated from standard behaviour, emphasising child protection must take priority over individual rights.

The case came to light through social media posts on a page called “Save Lily”, run by a Hong Kong couple identified as Mr Tsang and Ms Kwan. The pair, who are unmarried, previously lived in Europe for several years.

According to the page, the pair are involved in a custody dispute with Swedish authorities, who removed their then two-year-old daughter, Lily, from their care in late 2023 over child welfare concerns during a period of undocumented stay in the country.

They also said online that before moving to Sweden, they had given birth to their eldest daughter at home in Finland, but she died in infancy.

Two months ago, the mother gave birth to a son, Danny, at their Hong Kong residence.