A woman who was caught on camera being beaten by a white-clad mob at a train station in Hong Kong has come out to clarify that she is indeed pregnant.

She was one of the people assaulted by the hundreds of triad-linked men on July 22 at a MTR station in Yuen Long, a town in New Territories.

Some 45 people were reportedly injured.

Protesters wearing black tops, reporters wearing yellow vests to identify them as media, as well as ordinary commuters wearing different-coloured tops were all targeted.

According to the timeline described by MTR, the violence at the station lasted for about an hour.

MTR staff first reported the assault at 10:45pm, and the station was then closed at 11:55pm.

Police arrived at around 11:20pm to attend to the incident.

Police are conducting raids to arrest the triad-linked assailants.

Didn't tell the hospital she was pregnant

The woman, surnamed Zhao, told Hong Kong-based Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao on July 23 that she was pregnant at the time of the assault.

However, she said she had not disclosed the information to the public initially as she was less than three months pregnant, and did not want to "escalate the matter".

She also said she had withheld the information from Pok Oi hospital, where she was treated for head injuries on July 22.

Hospital treated her for head injuries

Zhao added that she was able to be treated without disclosing her pregnancy as she was injured on her forehead and the back of her head, which means the hospital only scanned her head during her check-up, bypassing her abdomen area.

The Hospital Authority in Hong Kong had previously told the media that emergency rooms in public hospitals had not attended to any pregnant women or women who miscarried, RTHK reported.

It is not known how the public got the wind of her pregnancy status early on.

Felt obliged to clarify after looking at online debate

However, Zhao said she she decided to clear things up after seeing the online debate surrounding her, and the comments that attacked her for falsely saying she was pregnant.

She told Ming Pao:

"I felt troubled by the online discussions. If no one attacked me, or said I was merely putting up a show, I wouldn't have said anything."

Zhao, who said both her and her unborn baby are doing well, added that even if she was not pregnant, women should not be beaten.

"Actually, no one should be beaten," she said.

Online commenters react

Comments by netizens both within and outside of Hong Kong were initially quick to rubbish claims that a pregnant woman was assaulted at a time when the story was still developing.

Some comments went to the extent of suggesting the victim was a crisis actress.

Such an elegant demeanour even as she lies on the floor, what a professional background actress.

There was no pregnant woman, only big belly.

The lady is so innocent, she was put on the spot by the yellow-ribbon supporters (pro-democracy camp).

Pregnant women need to be taken care of seriously, but toxic media and toxic websites love to use this to fan the flame.

Pro-democracy camp is making up stories once again.

Yellow-ribbon supporters have always been guessing and making up stories. After self-confirmation, they continue to make things up and extend the stories indefinitely. They end up making things up freely, with all kinds of variations based on the lies.

Comments on Singapore media reports on news

Commenters responding to early reports of the pregnant woman being assaulted by Singapore media brushed off the pregnancy claims:

Started from a viral video

The woman's pregnancy was perhaps first mentioned in a widely-circulated video, in which she was seen lying on the floor as paramedics attended to her.

The video was then picked up by several media outlets, which reported that an alleged pregnant woman was hit and fell to the ground during the violent attack at Yuen Long MTR station.

However, as her pregnancy could not be confirmed at that moment, a heated debate on the validity of her pregnancy was triggered.

Ann Chiang Lai-wan, pro-government Legislative Council member, also jumped in and commented on the incident following reports on the Hospital Authority's statement.

Rumours will be stopped by the wise. There wasn't a miscarriage because she isn't pregnant. Netizens didn't fact check before calling her a pregnant woman. This is disrespect towards women.

Top image via MingPao