To Kwa Wan parents on alert after 9-year-old child shoved into harbor

Parents in To Kwa Wan have expressed growing safety concerns after a shocking incident last Saturday (July 12) saw a 9-year-old boy pushed into water by an unknown assailant. 

The attacker, described as a man in his 20s wearing a red T-shirt and camouflage shorts, fled toward Whampoa immediately after the assault.

Fortunately, the boy, who knew how to swim, managed to climb back ashore but suffered minor injuries to his hands and legs, requiring hospital treatment.

The incident occurred at around 11am at Hoi Sham Park near King Wan Street, where the boy was fishing with his mother on a pier that day.

Witnesses reported that the assailant approached from behind and shoved the child into the water before escaping. Police have classified the case as assault occasioning actual bodily harm and are reviewing CCTV footage to track down the suspect.

A local resident who frequents the area for morning exercises told reporters he was present during the incident but did not see the actual push.

"I only realized something happened when the boy was already in the water," he said. "His mother helped him change out of his wet clothes, and soon many police officers arrived." 

While he described the neighborhood as generally safe, he added, "With so many CCTV cameras around, they should be able to find him."

A mother walking with her young son near the scene expressed alarm upon learning about the attack.

"I'll definitely be more careful with my child now," she said, echoing concerns shared by other parents in the district.

The boy's school issued a notice on Monday (July 14), urging parents to be vigilant during summer break and avoid letting children go out alone.

The advisory has sparked discussions online, with some residents calling for increased police patrols. "I hope more people pay attention to this," one comment read. "We need more officers keeping watch."

(Marco Lam)