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Police in Hong Kong have arrested the parents of a young girl who was filmed carrying two bags of beer while walking through a housing estate in her school uniform.
The 38-year-old father and 32-year-old mother were nabbed on Wednesday (7 Oct) on suspicion of ill-treatment or neglect of a child or young person under their care.
The incident came to light after a video filmed at Fu Tai Estate in Tuen Mun on Tuesday (6 Oct) began circulating online.
The nearly four-minute clip reportedly showed the girl, believed to be around 10 years old, walking slowly uphill at about 7pm.
She carried a plastic bag full of cans of beer in each hand and wore a damaged backpack.
Source: hkbackupkid on Threads
According to Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP), passersby offered to help the girl, but she declined, saying she was afraid getting scolded by her father.
Later, the father appeared with his two other children.
When passersby chided him, he reportedly called the girl a “useless person” before taking one of the bags from her.
A teacher alerted police regarding the incident after coming across the footage online, The Standard reported.
Later, the police located the girl and her parents, nine-year-old sister, and two-year-old brother.
A source claimed officers did not observe any apparent abnormalities involving the children when they arrived.
According to HKFP, preliminary investigation revealed that the girl was engaging in “exercise” and had voluntarily carried the beer.
Source: hkbackupkid on Threads
Nevertheless, the parents were arrested for investigation over suspected ill-treatment or neglect of the child.
The case has since been referred to the Social Welfare Department, RTHK reported.
Before their arrest, the girl’s parents told HK01 that the incident was a “misunderstanding”.
They claimed that carrying the beer was an exercise to improve the girl’s motor skills, as she has a condition affecting her physical coordination.
The girl also told the media that her parents care about her and confirmed that she has difficulty carrying heavy objects.
According to her, she had previously carried eight cans of beer, followed by 16 cans.
She said the incident captured on video on Tuesday was her first attempt at carrying 24 cans.
The Social Welfare Department said its staff have reached out to the family. Relevant professionals are also set to convene for a multi-disciplinary case conference.
At the meeting, they will assess the children’s needs, develop plans to address them, and provide assistance to the family, including with regard to their caregiving situation.
Source: hkbackupkid on Threads
The girl’s school also said its teachers and social workers immediately followed up on the incident and will continue providing support to the student and her family.
It urged members of the public to prevent further sharing the video or related information, citing concerns over the girl’s privacy and emotional well-being.
According to The Standard, the girl in the video is the mother’s daughter from a previous marriage.
About three years ago, she remarried and later gave birth to a son.
The mother reportedly suffers from epilepsy, and the eldest daughter was born with Kawasaki disease. The younger daughter also has dyslexia, while the son has a developmental delay.
The family lives in Ning Tai House on about HK$18,000 (around S$2,900) a month from Hong Kong’s Comprehensive Social Security Assistance scheme.
They also receive around HK$2,000 (around S$326) in monthly child support from the mother’s former husband.
Also read: Drunk father allegedly tells 15-year-old son to drive car home in Hong Kong, both arrested
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Featured image adapted from hkbackupkid on Threads.