Hong Kong police arrest couple for suspected child abuse

Hong Kong police have arrested a 38-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman on suspicion of child abuse or neglect following a viral video showing an 11-year-old girl struggling to carry 24 cans of beer.

Witnesses reported seeing the child laboriously transporting heavy plastic bags under hot weather. The child reportedly declined help from passersby due to fear of being scolded by her parents. When the father eventually appeared, he allegedly insulted the child, calling her “useless,” before taking one of the bags.

The parents have claimed the incident was a misunderstanding, asserting that the heavy lifting was intended to help the child develop motor skills due to a coordination disorder. The girl noted that the weight she was required to carry had increased incrementally from 8 cans to 24 cans. The Hong Kong Social Welfare Department is currently conducting a comprehensive assessment of the family's circumstances.