Mother arrested after caught slapping daughter in library

A 35-year-old mother has been arrested for child abuse after a video circulated online showing her slapping her daughter at Po On Road Public Library in Sham Shui Po. 

Sham Shui Po police said they arrested the mother, surnamed Lau, for ill-treatment or neglect of a young person around 8 pm on Friday after an investigation as the video – recorded on Thursday – came to their attention. 

The girl was then sent to hospital for a thorough check-up. The mother has been released on bail and has to report to the police early July, police said. 

Police also said the case will be referred to other relevant departments or bodies so  the family can receive the necessary support. 

The online video is about three-and-a-half minutes and shows the mother helping her daughter and son together at the table in the library. The mother is heard cursing at the girl suspectedly because of her slow study progress and slaps the girl a number of times. 

As the scene switches to the stairwell, the mother is seen slapping the girl numerous times again while the girl remains silent and only wipes her tears. 

It is understood that the daughter is seven years old and studying at primary two while the younger brother is one year old. 

Sources said Lau admitted and regretted treating her daughter violently, saying she was extremely anxious about her daughter’s study. 

According to the Social Welfare Department, the girl is now cared for by other family members and a social worker has contacted the family to follow-up on the incident. 

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