Hong Kong police arrest man, 23, over acts of vandalism targeting ethnic minority residents
- Suspect’s alleged activities against On Yam Estate residents include leaving human waste outside their flats, cutting off utilities and dropping water-filled bags on children
- ‘We believe the suspect allegedly carried out the illegal acts in the estate due to his personal hatred against ethnic minority residents,’ police say
Hong Kong police have arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with a spate of vandalism and nuisance-related activities targeting ethnic minority residents from dozens of households at a public estate.
Superintendent Alan Chung, a Kwai Chung divisional commander, said on Saturday that an investigation showed the victims at On Yam Estate were the target of an escalating trend of illegal acts over recent weeks.
The suspect allegedly left human waste and other rubbish outside the flats of his victims and hurled water-filled bags from above at children playing on the estate’s playgrounds.
“This month, the water supply to more than 10 ethnic minority families was disconnected,” Chung said.
The superintendent said the investigation showed water switches at the rear staircase on various floors in the estate’s three buildings were turned off after padlocks on their cases were broken open and replaced.
Police responded to the spate of incidents by stepping up patrols at the estate and deploying plain-clothes officers to conduct surveillance.
Officers arrested the suspect at around 10pm on Friday after spotting two water-filled bags being hurled from atop the estate’s Hong Yam House at two children playing on a volleyball court outside.
