The Hong Kong Police Force has ramped up patrols around a Fanling kindergarten after reports of children being followed by strangers after leaving the campus, putting the community on high alert following a recent child abduction case.
The heightened security measures come on the heels of a kidnapping incident in Tseung Kwan O that saw a 3-year-old boy snatched from a shopping mall, only to be later rescued at a nearby private estate with two women arrested.
The ELCHK Cheung Wah Kindergarten in Fanling issued an alert to parents on Wednesday, informing them of an incident where a K1 student was reportedly followed by strangers after school. According to the notice, a parent had witnessed a Mandarin-speaking woman tailing the young child at a park near Fanling Centre on Tuesday afternoon. The parent immediately confronted the woman, who then retreated and left the area with another man waiting nearby.
In response, the Sheung Shui police district has stepped up patrols in Fanling, also deploying plainclothes officers outside the kindergarten on Wednesday morning. The school urged parents to be vigilant and keep a close eye on their children during daily commutes.
The latest development underscores the heightened concerns over child safety in Hong Kong, following the high-profile Tseung Kwan O abduction case. Authorities are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the well-being of the community’s youngest members.
