Two women have been arrested after a dispute at a shopping centre in Kwun Tong escalated into a physical altercation, following an alleged confrontation involving a five-year-old girl.
The incident occurred at about 4.45pm on Wednesday at the atrium of APM shopping centre, where parents and children had gathered around a play area.
According to a source, the dispute reportedly began between a young boy and the five-year-old girl over the use of a play installation.
The boy’s 68-year-old grandmother, who was at the venue with her 34-year-old daughter and grandson, allegedly became involved in the disagreement.
Footage of the incident later circulated online, showing an elderly woman apparently shoving the girl before slapping her. The child was seen losing her balance and falling to the ground.
The incident quickly escalated when another woman rushed towards the older woman and struck her.
At another point in the footage, the boy’s mother was seen confronting the girl’s mother and telling her: “You can’t leave.”
Two men also intervened at different stages of the confrontation. One was heard challenging the older woman, asking whether she had just hit a child and saying he had witnessed what happened.
Police were called to the shopping centre and subsequently arrested the 68-year-old woman and the girl’s 34-year-old mother on suspicion of assault or assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The girl and both women were taken to United Christian Hospital for treatment after suffering minor facial injuries.
The case is being investigated by the Kwun Tong district crime investigation team.
The incident has since drawn attention online, with the footage sparking concern over how a dispute between children at a public play area escalated into a confrontation involving adults.
