Hong Kong Police Arrest Parents Over Child Abuse Allegations
Parents of an 11-year-old girl filmed carrying dozens of beer cans were arrested on suspicion of child abuse after a video circulated online.
Parents of an 11-year-old girl filmed carrying dozens of beer cans were arrested on suspicion of child abuse after a video circulated online.
· Updated
Hong Kong police have arrested the parents of an 11-year-old girl who was filmed struggling to carry dozens of beer cans. The 38-year-old father and 32-year-old mother were detained on suspicion of "ill-treatment or neglect by those in charge of a child or young person," a charge commonly known as child abuse.
The arrests followed the circulation of a video showing the girl carrying two dozen beer cans and a damaged schoolbag. She reportedly declined offers of help, stating she feared her father would scold her. The father later appeared, criticized his daughter, and took a bag from her.
Police received a report on Tuesday evening and initially believed the girl had picked up the beer voluntarily. However, the case was reclassified the following afternoon and taken over by the New Territories North Child Abuse Investigation Unit, which initiated a probe and involved the Social Welfare Department.
The parents told local media that the incident was a "misunderstanding" and denied child abuse, claiming the beer-carrying was a motor skills exercise for their daughter, who has a condition affecting physical coordination. They stated all three of their children have special needs and that services in Tuen Mun District are insufficient.
FAQ
Why were the parents arrested?
The parents were arrested on suspicion of child abuse after their daughter was filmed carrying a large number of beer cans.
What is the parents' explanation for the incident?
The parents claim the incident was a misunderstanding and that carrying the beer was an exercise to train their daughter's motor skills due to a physical coordination condition.
