A five-year-old boy and his eight-year-old sister were taken to hospital yesterday after teachers at their schools found red marks on their limbs and backs. Their 28-year-old mother, a housewife, was arrested on suspicion of child abuse. She was being held for questioning.
Police said the father, who had separated from his wife, would care for the children. The Social Welfare Department was following the case.
The alleged abuse was discovered at 10am when the boy complained to teachers at his kindergarten in Ka Wing Street, Yau Tong, that he had a sore back. The principal called police after red marks were found on his leg and back. During inquiries, the boy said his older sister had also been beaten at home.
Teachers at the Hong Kong Taoist Association Chan Lui Chung Tak Memorial School in Yau Tong found red marks on the Primary Two girl's left arm and back. 'The girl refused to reveal that she was beaten. She told us that she was injured accidentally. But we felt suspicious and took her to hospital for examination,' a guidance teacher said.
Police officers, following up the kindergarten complaint, arrived at the school as the girl and a teacher were waiting for a taxi to take her to United Christian Hospital.
The girl met her younger brother at the hospital, where they were examined and spoke to social workers, the teacher said.
