3 people arrested for fighting after elderly woman filmed slapping 5-year-old girl in Kwun Tong mall

Three women were arrested Thursday night following a viral video that showed an elderly woman slapping a five-year-old girl at a Kwun Tong shopping mall, police confirmed. The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon at APM mall, one of Hong Kong’s busiest retail centers, and escalated into a physical altercation involving multiple parties before officers arrived. Authorities identified the arrested women as a 68-year-old grandmother, her 34-year-old daughter, and another 34-year-old woman, all held on suspicion of fighting in a public place.

The confrontation began around 4:45 pm in the mall’s children’s play area, where a dispute reportedly broke out between the elderly woman’s grandson and the five-year-old victim over access to play equipment. A widely shared social media video shows the older woman in a red top striking the girl across the face with an open hand, causing her to fall to the ground. The footage then captures another woman rushing forward and striking the elderly woman, while the boy’s mother joined the fracas. A male bystander intervened in an attempt to calm the situation and was heard shouting in Cantonese, “Hitting a kid? I saw you,” pointing at the 68-year-old woman.

Police from the Kwun Tong District Crime Division detained all three women and transported them for investigation. The five-year-old girl and the two younger women were taken to United Christian Hospital with minor injuries, including facial swelling. Authorities stated the victim suffered a red, swollen cheek as a result of the slap.

According to police records, the girl and her mother, who were traveling under two-way permits for travel between mainland China and Hong Kong, were visiting the mall when the incident occurred. The arrested individuals remain in police custody as investigators continue gathering statements and reviewing surveillance footage.

The case has drawn widespread attention on social media, with users criticizing the violence and calling for accountability. The Hong Kong Free Press has previously reported on escalating tensions in public spaces and the legal consequences of assaults in retail environments. Police emphasized that fighting in a public place is a criminal offense under Hong Kong law and urged witnesses to come forward with any additional information.

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