Mong Kok maid cafe owner held over girl assault claim
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A 35-year-old operator of a maid cafe in Mong Kok was arrested after a 14-year-old employee alleged he molested her multiple times during her first week on the job at the venue in Dundas Square. The girl, a Form Three student who began working there on August 7, reported the case to police on Friday, and the investigation has been taken up by the Mong Kok district crime team.
Key Points
- Police arrested the suspect, a 35-year-old man surnamed Cheung, at the cafe in Mong Kok's Dundas Square on Saturday, according to a police source
- The Standard said the cafe owner was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of indecent assault on a child under 16 and making or providing a person under 16 for live sexual performance
- The 14-year-old complainant was a Form Three student who had been working at the maid cafe for about a week after starting on August 7.
- On her first day, Cheung allegedly hugged her around the waist, and on later occasions made her sit on his lap for intimate photos and touched her waist and breasts
- The girl reported the alleged assaults to police on Friday, and the case is now being handled by the Mong Kok police district crime investigation team.
Why It Matters
The case raises concerns about the protection of underage staff in themed food-and-beverage venues that employ teenagers in customer-facing roles. It also puts attention on how police handle allegations involving minors, workplace power imbalance and the taking of intimate images during employment.