Mother fears that 10-year-old will be separated from family after knife attack Kowloon City Juvenile Court will today hear a police application for a care or protection order for a 10-year-old boy who injured his mother with a knife. A police source said police had decided to apply for the court order because the boy, a Primary Three pupil, had repeatedly threatened his mother. 'Whenever his mother tried to punish him for his naughty behaviour or disobedience, he drew out a knife, wielding the weapon,' the source said. 'His mother told our officers that a number of such incidents had happened in the past and that she surrendered each time.' She had never sought help from police in the past. In the latest incident, the boy allegedly cut his mother's arm, but the source said it was unlikely that a charge would be laid against the boy, 'as his mother did not want to pursue the case'. The wounding happened on Tuesday at 4.30pm after the boy returned from school to the family's flat in Cheung Sha Wan. Police said the boy became upset when he wanted to play computer games in his sister's bedroom but she had locked the door so she could do her homework. Police said the boy then obtained a knife and attacked his mother. He was arrested after his sister called police. Last night, the boy was staying at a home run by the Social Welfare Department. Principal social worker Grace Ma Tin-yung, of the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society, said the boy's mother feared that her son would be separated from their family. 'His mother told us that she and her husband loved him very much and that they feared that their son would not be allowed to return home again,' Ms Ma said. 'She also told us her son had no intention of hurting her. She claimed that she was injured when she tried to snatch the knife from him.' His mother, a housewife, was treated at Caritas Medical Centre for injuries to her left forearm and discharged on the same day. She had previously sought help from the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society after encountering difficulties in teaching her son. 'The woman told us that she did not know what to do when her son was in a bad mood,' Ms Ma said. 'We had provided counselling and activities for the woman and her son for about a year. They have made a dramatic improvement and no violence was reported.' Ms Ma said she was shocked by Tuesday's incident and the society would follow up the case and continue to provide the family with assistance.
