The Social Welfare Department said on Monday that it is following up on the case of a 12-year-old boy who was abandoned by his mainland mother in Hong Kong, noting he is in good health and emotionally stable.

After leaving the child at Kwong Wah Hospital on Friday, the woman returned to the mainland. The police have filed an application in the Juvenile Court for a care or protection order for the boy, and the case has been adjourned to August 18.

The department stated that the boy is receiving professional care and counselling services provided by the Tuen Mun Children and Juvenile Home, where he will remain until the court rules on his welfare plan. It noted that he has been participating in group activities in the home.

The police have been in contact with the boy's mother, and the department's case worker will also reach out to her.

Officers are reported to have been in touch with the mother, who brought the boy to Hong Kong from Jiangxi and is said to be willing to return to the SAR to fetch him.

The department said it will formulate suitable suggestions on the boy's welfare plans for the court's consideration based on comprehensive assessments of his condition.

"While this kind of abandoned child case is very rare in Hong Kong, social workers will, when handling each individual case, formulate suitable welfare plans for the children with their best interest as the paramount concern, taking account of all relevant information and factors of the case," the department said in a statement.

On Sunday, Chief Executive John Lee called on the family of the abandoned boy to come back for him, stating that such actions cannot be tolerated in the caring society he aims to build.