Police say there has been an uptick in violent crimes involving teenagers in Kwun Tong district since the fourth quarter of last year. Photo: SCMPHong Kong police have ramped up patrols at Kwun Tong Promenade, dubbed the “Lan Kwai Fong of Gen Z,” to combat rising teen crime. Officers conducted an average of eight patrols a day over the past six weeks.
The force said on Saturday that it had noticed an uptick in violent crime involving teenagers in Kwun Tong district since the fourth quarter last year.
A SCMP report looked into the area after a viral online video sparked concerns among parents of indecent behaviour as teenagers were shown offering free hugs and kisses to strangers on New Year’s Eve.
Between November 1 and Wednesday, uniformed and plain-clothes police officers conducted 642 patrols at the waterfront, the force said.
Officers also stopped and searched 1,092 people. Among them were 388 minors including 98 aged below 16 years. Police said they referred six underaged people to social welfare NGOs for follow-up actions.
During this period, the force received six reports, including five related to organised crime and violence, which were resolved at the scene.
“None of these cases involved drugs or sexual offences,” it added.
Officers also escorted five minors back to the police station and contacted their guardians.
Hong Kong police chief urges teens to think carefully about harms of crime
In an operation from Friday night to the early hours of Saturday, the force stopped and searched 154 individuals.
They also used a rapid test for a newly emerging drug known as “space oil” and checked convenience stores in the area for illegal alcohol sales to the underaged.
During the operation, authorities issued tickets to 12 people for smoking and two for cycling within park boundaries.
Concerns mounted over the area after a YouTuber, EG Tsang Hin-man, posted a video about the waterfront on New Year’s Eve, with young people seen offering free hugs and kisses to strangers.
His interviews with teenagers, some believed to be underage, discussed rumours about young people having sex in a public toilet at the promenade.
The force said patrolling officers on New Year’s Eve did not find any drug-related activities, illegal alcohol provision or acts of indecency.
When the SCMP visited the promenade on a Saturday night, groups of teenagers were seen hanging out with friends, but no one held up signs offering free hugs or kisses.
Groups of skateboarders were practising their tricks in a designated area, while families, joggers and dog walkers also shared the waterfront.
Young people the SCMP spoke to said they usually gathered with friends to chat and enjoy the city skyline, while the activities portrayed in the video were a one-off.
They added that since the video went viral, their parents had shown concern and asked whether they hung out in the area.
Lawmaker Frankie Ngan Man-yu, who represents the Kowloon East constituency which includes Kwun Tong, said it was a good thing for young people to gather at the promenade to enjoy the facilities as long as there was no crime.
He urged development authorities to enhance the facilities there to cater to young people, including adding more vending machines selling snacks and drinks, seats and charging facilities. More activities popular among young people could also be held at night there, he added.
Ngan also called on the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to set up more surveillance cameras at the site to monitor and prevent crime.
Sayho Wong Tsz-ho, leader of the Kwun Tong district youth outreaching social work team of the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association, warned that negative publicity could push teenagers to socialise in hard-to-monitor, private spaces such as party rooms.
The force said it would continue to monitor the situation at the promenade to maintain public order and prevent crime, taking necessary measures to protect minors.