Hong Kong police have arrested a 13-year-old girl who allegedly assaulted and injured a 15-year-old student during a countdown celebration at a promenade dubbed the “Lan Kwai Fong of Gen Z”.
Police said that the incident involving the two girls – who knew each other – took place at around 1am on New Year’s Day at Kwun Tong Promenade.
“The victim had on multiple occasions spread false rumours about [the 13-year-old], making her upset,” acting chief inspector Leung Sze-nok of Kwun district police said.
The 13-year-old, who has no previous convictions, allegedly kicked and slapped the victim repeatedly when they met, causing multiple bruises on her body and face.
Leung added that police received a report at around 3am from the victim’s mother.
The 13-year-old was arrested at her Kwai Chung home on Thursday afternoon. She has been detained for further investigation.
Ben Tsang Chiu-fo, the acting deputy district commander, said the force strongly condemned violence and would not hesitate to bring perpetrators to justice.
“Assault causing bodily harm is a serious crime, punishable by up to three years' imprisonment upon conviction,” he warned.
Noting that the alleged assailant was a minor, Tsang urged parents to pay attention to their children’s social interactions.
“I hope parents will pay more attention to their children during the holidays, including their activities on social media and who they are meeting outside,” he said.
Videos of the fight, likely to have been filmed by other revellers, were circulating online on Thursday.
In one clip, a girl, dressed in a white off-shoulder top, kicks another girl as onlookers cheer. The victim tries to back down but the onlookers surrounding her push her towards the assailant, who then slaps her.
The victim tries to walk away, but the perpetrator chases after her, yanking her hair from the back and hitting her on the head multiple times.
The promenade came into the spotlight on New Year’s Eve in 2024, when flocks of teenagers gathered for the countdown, earning it the nickname the “Lan Kwai Fong of Gen Z”, a reference to Hong Kong’s popular nightlife spot in Central. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
