A 66-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after red paint was splashed across the entrance of a joint office used by Hong Kong lawmakers Bill Tang and Chan Pui-leung in Sau Mau Ping.
Police launched an investigation after receiving a report at about 6am on Thursday that the office had been vandalised. The man was later arrested in Sau Mau Ping and detained for questioning. According to reports, he told investigators that he acted after the two legislators allegedly failed to follow up on a complaint he had previously submitted.
The incident targeted the lawmakers’ joint district office on the ground floor of Sau Chi House at Sau Mau Ping Estate in Kwun Tong. Police officers who attended the scene found red paint covering several parts of the premises, including the office noticeboard, walls and metal shutter.
The case has drawn a strong response from Tang and Chan, who condemned the damage and thanked police for making an arrest shortly after the incident was reported.
Police Investigate Early-Morning Vandalism
The incident came to light after police received a report at around 6am concerning the condition of the lawmakers’ office.
When officers arrived, they found red paint splattered across the entrance area. The damage was not limited to a single surface. Paint was found on the noticeboard, walls and the metal shutter protecting the office.
Police subsequently began examining information gathered during the investigation, including surveillance footage from Sau Mau Ping Estate.
According to the investigation, CCTV footage showed a man entering a building within the estate. Police later arrested a 66-year-old man in Sau Mau Ping on suspicion of criminal damage.
He was detained while officers continued their investigation. The available information did not indicate that anyone was injured in the incident.
The arrest followed a relatively short period of police investigation, although officers continued to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged vandalism and the man's reported motive.
Man Reportedly Links Action to Earlier Complaint
Reports cited in the case said the man claimed that his actions were connected to an earlier complaint involving the legislators.
He reportedly told investigators that he had taken the action because he believed the lawmakers had failed to follow up on the complaint he had previously made.
The allegation provides a possible explanation for why the office was targeted, but the reported claim remains part of the police investigation. An arrest on suspicion of an offence does not establish guilt, and the circumstances surrounding the complaint and the man's actions will need to be examined as the case proceeds.
The incident also illustrates how disputes involving district offices can quickly move beyond complaints and correspondence when a person chooses to damage property.
Tang and Chan's office serves residents in the Kwun Tong district, including people living in and around Sau Mau Ping Estate. District lawmakers regularly deal with residents' concerns and complaints, making their offices an important point of contact for constituents.
Lawmakers Condemn the Incident
Tang and Chan responded jointly through statements posted on their social media accounts, confirming that their office had been vandalised with red paint.
The two lawmakers described the incident as an “illegal act” and condemned the damage.
They also expressed their appreciation to police for what they described as a swift investigation and arrest.
The lawmakers said they had immediately issued reminders and introduced measures aimed at protecting the personal safety of office staff and volunteers following the incident.
Despite the damage, they said the office remained open and continued operating normally.
“The office is now operating as usual, continuing to serve the residents of Kwun Tong District and Sau Mau Ping Estate,” the lawmakers said in their statement.
They also thanked members of the public and the media for their concern following the incident.
The statement did not indicate that the office would suspend services or that residents would be unable to contact the lawmakers.
Office Resumes Normal Operations
The decision to continue operating reflects the office's role in serving local residents despite the damage to its exterior.
The paint affected visible parts of the premises, including the noticeboard, walls and shutter. There was no reported indication in the supplied information that the office's normal services had been permanently disrupted.
Staff and volunteers were also informed about measures intended to address personal safety following the incident.
The lawmakers' response focused on both condemning the alleged vandalism and reassuring residents that the office remained available.
For police, the immediate task is to establish what happened before and during the incident, determine the extent of the property damage and assess the circumstances surrounding the suspect's reported complaint.
The man's reported explanation may form part of that inquiry, but investigators will need to establish the facts independently.
Criminal Damage Can Carry a Prison Sentence
Hong Kong law provides for serious penalties in criminal damage cases.
For a standard criminal damage offence that does not involve an intention to endanger another person, the maximum penalty can be 10 years' imprisonment. However, cases dealt with in the magistrates' courts carry a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment for a single offence.
The eventual handling of the case will depend on the evidence collected by investigators and any decision to bring formal charges.
For now, the 66-year-old remains under investigation following his arrest in Sau Mau Ping.
The incident has left red paint across the entrance of a district lawmakers' office, but the office has continued serving residents. As police work to establish the circumstances behind the alleged vandalism, residents with complaints or concerns can continue to approach the lawmakers through their district office rather than resorting to property damage.
If you were dealing with a local complaint that you believed had not been followed up, what would be the proper way to raise it without damaging public property?