A 32-year-old woman has been charged with three offenses following a knife-wielding confrontation at a beef offal shop in Sheung Shui.
The incident occurred at around 12.14am last Saturday (Jan 3) at a shop on Lung Sum Avenue.
The woman, surnamed Lau, reportedly became involved in a dispute with shop staff over a payment issue after her mobile phone battery ran out.
During the argument, she became emotionally agitated, picked up a knife, and damaged the shop owner’s mobile phone.
According to circulating CCTV footage, the situation escalated when Lau, armed with a pair of scissors and a kitchen knife, shouted at police officers upon their arrival and charged toward them.
Reports said she slashed a knife measuring about 30 centimeters against police shields as officers wearing helmets and stab-resistant vests repeatedly urged her to surrender.
Front-line officers blocked the attacks while other officers entered the shop through the rear. Lau was eventually subdued and pinned to the ground in front of shocked onlookers.
She sustained hand injuries during the altercation and was later taken to North District Hospital for treatment.
Police said on Wednesday that the woman has been charged with one count of possession of an offensive weapon, one count of criminal damage, and one count of assaulting a police officer.
Her court appearance date has not yet been scheduled.
It is understood that Lau was holding a two-way exit permit and was visiting Hong Kong after a trip to Vietnam. Sources said she may be suffering from mental illness.
