A 14-year-old boy who took part in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests may be separated from his parents as a result.
After being arrested in Mong Kok on Nov. 25 along with dozens of others, the minor, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was not charged with an offence, but instead brought to juvenile court where police applied for a care of protection order.
Such orders are usually only implemented in extreme cases, such as those of child pornography or abandonment. The filing, however, alleges that the boy’s parents put his health and welfare at risk by failing to exercise proper control over their child.
If the order is approved, the teenager could be subjected to counselling, a curfew or removed from his parents altogether. According to the boy, police told him during his detention on Nov.25 that he would be moved to a boys’ home if he could not be controlled.
Speaking to Bloomberg, the teen’s lawyer Patricia Ho said, “Nobody could believe that the case was brought forward: it’s completely out of order. It’s a scare tactic, not just for the kid but for his parents – they’re trying to pressurise the child from all sides.”
The boy says he was inspired to join the protests by Scolarism leader and general Occupy Central poster boy Joshua Wong. He claims to have attended school throughout the protests despite sleeping out on several nights.
The Hong Kong police have declined to comment on the case while proceedings are ongoing. His parents, who reportedly live in one of Hong Kong’s poorest areas, also declined to talk to Bloomberg.
Photo: Admiralty protest camp, Oct. 1 (Coconuts Media)
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