Two mothers and grandmother arrested after girl allegedly slapped at Hong Kong mall

Hong Kong police have arrested women following a confrontation at the apm shopping centre in Kwun Tong on Wednesday, 26 August, after a five-year-old girl was allegedly shoved and slapped during a dispute over the use of play facilities.

The incident occurred at about 4.44pm in the atrium of the mall, where a summer sports-themed exhibition was being held and children were using play installations.

Two 34-year-old mothers had taken their children to the shopping centre at around 4pm when an argument broke out over the use of the facilities.

A source cited in local reports said one of the women was accompanied by her son and her 68-year-old mother, while the other woman had brought her five-year-old daughter to the play area.

Video shows girl being knocked down

Footage circulating online showed a woman in a red top pushing a young girl before slapping her in the face. The girl appeared to lose her balance and fall backwards, prompting people nearby to rush to her aid.

The child was held and comforted by bystanders after the incident.

The video then showed the woman picking up a long umbrella and standing alongside another woman in a blue dress as they confronted a woman in white.

The woman in blue was heard preventing the woman in white from leaving, while a male passerby intervened and confronted the two women.

“Did you hit the child? I saw it. Call the police!” the man was heard saying in the footage, according to The Standard.

The clip ended shortly afterwards.

Witnesses said that the women in red and blue appeared to be related and were later seen waiting for police with a boy.

Parents allegedly assault each other

The dispute reportedly began between the children over the use of the play installation.

According to am730, the 68-year-old woman allegedly became involved in the dispute and slapped the five-year-old girl. The girl's mother then confronted the other woman and is suspected of assaulting the 34-year-old mother accompanying the boy.

Police said they received two related reports following the confrontation.

RTHK News reported that the girl's mother was suspected of assaulting the other 34-year-old woman after the girl was allegedly slapped.

The cause of the dispute remains unclear.

Police make arrests and hospitalise those involved

Police received two related reports during the incident, with one woman alleging that she and her mother had been slapped, followed by a report from another woman from mainland China that her daughter had been assaulted and was experiencing eye pain.

Police initially said they had arrested two women after investigating the incident. They were arrested on suspicion of assault and assault causing bodily harm respectively and were taken to United Christian Hospital by ambulance for medical examination.

am730, citing police information, reported that a total of three women were subsequently arrested and detained for investigation. They included the 68-year-old grandmother and the two 34-year-old mothers involved in the dispute.

Three people were taken to United Christian Hospital for treatment.

The 68-year-old woman complained of pain to her face and buttocks, while one of the 34-year-old women had facial pain and a hand injury. The five-year-old girl had redness and swelling on the right side of her face, while her mother sustained facial injuries. All were conscious when they were taken to hospital for treatment.

The Kwun Tong District Crime Division is investigating the incident.

Police urge public to avoid violence

Police also appeared to address the incident in a social media post on Thursday, 27 August.

“Whatever the grievance, no matter how angry you are, hitting someone is wrong,” police said, according to am730.

The force urged people to remain calm and resolve disputes rationally, warning that violence could result in criminal liability.