Key facts
- Police are investigating a case involving a 10-year-old girl carrying heavy bags of beer in Hong Kong.
- Videos showed the girl struggling with the bags and being berated by a man, believed to be her father.
- Bystanders expressed concern and questioned if the child was being abused.
- The girl's school reported the incident to the police and is providing support to the family.
- The girl stated she was helping because her mother has a chronic illness and she was not being beaten.
Hong Kong police are investigating an incident in Tuen Mun after videos circulated online showing a 10-year-old girl, dressed in a school uniform, struggling to carry two large bags of beer, estimated to weigh around 30 pounds. The girl also had two cans of beer in her worn-out backpack. Bystanders expressed concern for her well-being and questioned the actions of a man, believed to be her father, who was walking with younger siblings and appeared to observe the situation before allegedly snatching one bag of beer and calling the girl a "waste."
During the encounter, bystanders asked the girl if she was being beaten, to which she reportedly replied no and stated she was helping because her mother has a chronic illness. She also mentioned that she and her sister usually do housework. The girl's school confirmed it was aware of the video and had immediately involved social workers and teachers to provide comprehensive follow-up, counseling, and support to the student and her family. The school emphasized its commitment to child safety and well-being, urging the public to stop sharing the video to avoid causing further distress to the child and her family. Police confirmed they received a report on Tuesday night and attended the scene, but no arrests were made at that time. A district councilor is also reportedly following up on the case.