Teen's pain, bruises and fears

Teenager Chan Yin-lam damaged facilities and banged her head against the wall after she was sent to a girls' home for assaulting police, a coroner's court was told yesterday.

The body of the Hong Kong Design Institute student was found floating in the sea off Yau Tong last September.

Social worker Wong Yin-lai said, on the second day of the inquest, before coroner Ko Wai-hung, that the 15-year-old had been sent to a girls' home six times from 2017 to 2019.

Chan tried to suffocate herself with a plastic bag in the girls' home on March 9 last year and was sent to Tuen Mun Hospital, Wong said.

Chan told her she did not like being sent to the home.

Two staff from the home picked Chan up at the hospital on March 13, but Chan escaped while they were waiting for a taxi.

Wong did not believe the girl had suicidal tendencies and thought she did that to try to escape from the home.

Chan was sent to the center again on August 14 last year for assaulting a police officer.

Wong found Chan's wrists had bruises. Chan said it was caused by the handcuffs and she wanted to complain about police being impolite and provoking her.

The teen demonstrated erratic behavior the day after, including laughing and crying and misunderstanding instructions.

In the next few days, Chan shredded a pillow and stuffed it into a toilet, damaged a medical alarm and banged her head against the wall and windows several times. She was sent to Tuen Mun hospital.

Chan was allowed to leave the hospital the next day, but said: "I don't want to go to the dorm. I am scared. I don't want to be alone," adding she was hearing voices.

The girl returned to the hospital later that day as she had a low-grade fever. A doctor later called Wong who asked the doctor why Chan was acting abnormally. The doctor said Chan was under great pressure.

Chan acted normal again after returning from the hospital and told Wong her abnormal behavior was because of hallucinations.

The girls' home had asked Chan to write an introspection article in which the girl said: "Three years later, Chan Yin-lam will be a girl whom everyone likes. I will finish the design course, and put what I've learned to good use, and live with my family happily."

At the emergency unit at Tuen Mun Hospital, Lam Chi-pang told the coroner that Chan was sent to the hospital on March 9 last year after she harmed herself. He said Chan had a head wound and had self-harm intention, but was sober and spoke clearly.

Lam said Chan was diagnosed with acute stress disorder and defiant disorder, but her mother refused to bring her to a psychiatrist for consultations.

Castle Peak Hospital psychiatrist Yeung Yu-hang told the coroner that he went to Tuen Mun Hospital to see Chan after she damaged facilities at the girls' home on August 19 last year.

Chan told him she heard two voices in her head blaming her so she started to harm herself, but she did not want to kill herself.

The girl also thought she could leave the girls' home and be sent to a hospital after making a scene.

Although Chan scolded police officers and social workers in the hospital ward, she cooperated with the doctor and spoke clearly.

Yeung said Chan did not have psychosis.

The inquest continues today.

sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com