{
  "id": 18439440,
  "title": "Hong Kong grandmother gets 20 days for slapping 5-year-old girl at play area",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/hong-kong-grandmother-gets-20-days-for-slapping-5-year-old-girl-at",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-06T04:29:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/hong-kong-grandmother-jail-slapping-girl-shopping-mall-6530026"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A 68-year-old grandmother in Hong Kong has been sentenced to 20 days in jail for slapping a five-year-old girl during a scuffle over a basketball at a shopping centre in Kwun Tong. Leung Lai-ha, along with her daughter Ng Ka-wun and the girl's mother Xu Yang, all pleaded guilty to the assault, which occurred on August 26. The grandmother claimed she hit the girl to \"teach her a lesson\" after the child allegedly bullied her grandson. The three adults were jointly charged with a public disturbance. Leung's arm was scratched during the altercation, while the girl suffered minor injuries to her face. The court heard that the women entered the fray after the two children had a squabble over the basketball. The judge deemed Leung's actions inappropriate and imposed a custodial sentence and a HK$2,000 fine. Ng and Xu agreed to be on a one-year good behavior bond, facing a HK$1,000 fine if they commit similar offenses within the next year.",
  "summary": "Leung Lai-ha, 68, her daughter and another woman fought at APM shopping centre in Kwun Tong after children squabbled over a basketball.",
  "key_points": [
    "68-year-old grandmother Leung Lai-ha sentenced to 20 days in jail",
    "Slapped five-year-old girl during basketball altercation at Kwun Tong",
    "Claimed she hit to teach lesson after child allegedly bullied grandson"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The custodial sentence for the grandmother signals the court's refusal to accept physical discipline of children as a valid justification for causing injury during public disputes.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}