Toddler's public urinating divides opinion

Internet users have been debating whether a brawl between a Chinese mainland couple and several Hong Kong locals over a toddler urinating on a busy street was because of a culture clash or geographical prejudice.

A video clip circulating on the Internet showed several Hong Kongers trying to stop the mainland couple from leaving after they let their child pee in public.

The clip showed a chaotic scene in which the toddler was crying while the mother tried to explain to passers-by, saying the child would have wet herself.

What started as another "bad behavior of Chinese mainland tourists", with netizens commenting on social morality, ended up dividing opinion.

"It is common sense for parents to avoid exposing their child's body, even when you can't find a toilet. At least go to a far-off place or a corner," said television host Lvqiu Luwei on Sina Weibo, China's Twitter.

But Lvqiu was accused by some netizens of not telling the whole truth.

In another video clip, the father is seen trying to get a camera memory card belonging to a Hong Konger, who had photographed his child. The mother repeatedly said she was trying to protect her daughter's privacy.

Netizens also posted pictures from the scene which showed the mother using a diaper to catch the child's urine. She then put the diaper in her bag.

"No parent would allow his or her child's private parts to be photographed. After all, it's just a kid," said "PrivateIT" on Weibo.

In an online poll on Sina Weibo, 30,000 people sided with the photographer, saying it was common to see bad-mannered children urinating on Beijing's subway and in Shanghai's restaurants.

However, 190,000 sided with the couple. "It is disappointing to see the helpless couple crowded by so many Hong Kong people while nobody was willing to help," said "shixiaoC" on Sina Weibo.

Many mainland netizens believe it is not just a manners issue, but another example of mainlanders being discriminated against by Hong Kongers. In the past, mainlanders have been criticized for traveling to Hong Kong to buy baby powder or give birth.

Mainland singer Ji Jie said on Sina Weibo that he had seen drunk foreigners urinating in a street of Lan Kwai Fong, but that they got away with it.

However, the release of a third video clip from Hong Kong-based Next Magazine showed that the mainland couple did not use a diaper.

Some netizens said they were tired of such debates.

Pang Cheung Wai, vice chairman of Hong Kong's Democratic Alliance for Betterment and Progress, said it was no big deal. He called on Hong Kongers to be more tolerant and mainlanders to respect Hong Kong laws and customs.

Pang's views were echoed by "Beijingchuzi", a popular Sina Weibo user, who said the Hong Kong government should provide more public toilets while mainlanders should also reflect on how they educate their children.

InTouch Today, a news section with major portal QQ.COM, said what should have been discussed was the child's "potty training", public hygiene and children's rights.

"While mainlanders do need to work on their manners, so do some Hong Kong people," said "yikouliandexiaowo". "Instead of taking pictures of a child urinating to show how bad-mannered mainlanders are, a well-mannered person would have offered help to the mother and help find a toilet."