A former worker at a scandal-hit foster home was on Wednesday sentenced to four months in jail for assaulting a two-year-old boy on multiple occasions.

Heung Wing-shan earlier admitted at the Kowloon City magistracy to having pulled the boy's limbs last November and pushed his head against the wall a month later.

The 46-year-old is one of 27 former workers at Children's Residential Home in Prince Edward charged with child abuse.

17 defendants are due to appear in court on Thursday, with prosecutors planning to transfer the cases to the District Court.

The remaining nine defendants had their cases adjourned to July or August.

40 children were allegedly abused at the facility run by the Society for the Protection of Children.

The abuse scandal came to light late last year following a complaint filed by a nearby resident.