A 29-year-old waiter was given a 12-month probation order on 7 September after admitting two counts of common assault against a woman sleeping rough in Hung Hom. Chen Tin-lok was sentenced at Kowloon City Magistrates’ Court.
The woman, Leung Yuet-kiu, also known as “A Giu”, had been sleeping rough near where Chen lived. Reports said he was unhappy about her presence and concerned about environmental hygiene, and had tried to make her leave the neighbourhood.
The two incidents took place in mid-July 2026 at two locations in the vicinity of a lane in Hung Hom and its junctions with Koon Ying Street and Gillies South Road. Reports differed over which location corresponded to the incidents on 15 and 16 July. In one incident, Chen threw water at Leung; in the other, he grabbed her clothing and dragged her.
Ming Pao reported that the dragging lasted about a minute and was captured by closed-circuit television. It also reported that a taxi driver witnessed the water-throwing incident and that someone reported it to police. Police later reviewed CCTV footage and arrested Chen; Ming Pao reported that he admitted the offences under caution.
Acting Principal Magistrate Cheng Nim-sze said the case was not a random assault on a rough sleeper. The magistrate said Chen lived near the scene and had been dissatisfied with Leung, but had dealt with the situation in a way that went beyond what was reasonable.
The court considered a positive probation officer’s report, Chen’s remorse and his lack of previous convictions when imposing the order. Reports said Leung did not suffer serious injury. The reports did not provide further details of the order’s conditions.