Coach who slapped boy, 8, at Hong Kong training camp spared criminal charges

A coach accused of slapping an eight-year-old boy and ordering him to stand under the hot sun during a training camp in Hong Kong has been spared from criminal prosecution after she agreed to a three-year good behaviour bond.

Chief Magistrate Victor So Wai-tak on Wednesday imposed the bond on Zhao Yiqun, 51, who faced two child abuse charges after she was alleged to have mistreated the boy during a training programme at the Jockey Club Ming Fai Camp, located on Cheung Chau island, on August 8, 2024.

Zhao had originally been required to appear at Eastern Court to state her plea for the two charges – one for ill-treatment or neglect by those in charge of a child and another for assault by a person caring for a minor.

But her lawyer told So that the parties had reached an agreement and that the Department of Justice would not continue the prosecution.