Controversies of the Hong Kong Police Force

The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) struggled with corruption among its ranks from the 1940s until the 1970s. It gained the nickname "Asia's Finest" after undergoing reforms in 1979.[1] Since the 2010s, the force has faced allegations of police brutality, sexual assault, excessive use of violence, falsification of evidence, and a lack of professionalism.

Hong Kong police shooting tear gas at protesters during a demonstration on October 1, 2019.

1940–70s: Post-war struggle with corruption

[edit]

After the Second World War ended in 1945, Hong Kong faced an economic slump. Trade became much slower than what it was before the war.[2] Meanwhile, an ongoing civil war in China forced thousands of Chinese refugees to flood the British colony, and later to escape the Cultural Revolution enforced by Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Party.[3] Due to a lack of resources to sustain this huge increase in their population, police enforcements were reliant on its staff sergeants (senior non-commissioned officers), who wielded significant power and influence within their districts, often imposing excessive rule over their subordinates.[4]

Corruption began to run rampant and tarnish the reputation of the Hong Kong Police. Officers were paid very little in comparison with other civil servants and with others in society in general.[4] Some officers accepted bribes to turn a blind eye towards syndicated vice, drugs and illegal gambling activities. During the 1950s and 1960s, syndicated criminals paid regular sums of money to the staff sergeants who, in turn, used couriers and book keepers to share their ill-gotten gains amongst the officers and constables of their respective police districts.[5]

This became an increasing concern for the colonial government, but corruption was temporarily overshadowed by the 1967 Hong Kong riots that threatened the stability and very existence of the British colony. In 1969, Queen Elizabeth II honored the Force with the 'Royal' title to recognize its loyalty, dedication and efforts to restore law and order during the 1967 disturbances. Princess Alexandra then became its Commandant General. Thus the Force changed its name to the Royal Hong Kong Police.[4]

Although not confined to the police but tarnishing other government departments and the wider business community as well, police corruption re-emerged as a major concern in the early 1970s. The Commissioner of Police, Charles Sutcliffe, ordered investigations to break the culture of corruption and this caused over forty Chinese officers to flee Hong Kong with more than HK$80 million cash (about HK$2 million each).[5][6] Moreover, in 1973, a highly decorated officer, Chief Superintendent Peter Godber, became embroiled in a corruption scandal when Sutcliffe found him to have amassed HK$4.3 million in assets. Godber fled the colony after learning of his intended arrest, prompting a public outcry. These events precipitated the formation of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in 1974, which the government gave wide-ranging powers to investigate and bring to justice corrupt elements in Hong Kong society.[7] The Hong Kong Police's official history cited poor pay as one of the primary factors that motivated officers to engage in corruption.[4] Investigators mounted a series of raids on police stations throughout the colony, sometimes bringing many officers to ICAC offices for questioning. Police discontent with this situation peaked in 1977 and the government offered an amnesty to all serving officers after junior police officers demonstrated at the Police Headquarters in Wanchai and the ICAC offices near Admiralty.[8]

1979–2010: Re-organization and "Asia's Finest"

[edit]

Following the amnesty, the police force re-organized itself, introducing new layers of management, police procedures and supervisory accountability to deter and detect corrupt elements within its ranks. The government also greatly improved police remuneration and overhauled the terms and conditions of their service—arguably removing the incentive for corruption.[4]

Resulting from the reforms of 1979 and the early 1980s, the Royal Hong Kong Police regained its good name and reputation and began marketing itself as "Asia's Finest".[1] It developed a strong track record for fighting crime, and enjoyed the reputation of being one of the most professional, efficient, honest and impartial police forces in the Asia Pacific region.[9][10] The force enjoyed the esteem and confidence of the public it served, as demonstrated by the University of Hong Kong opinion polls between 1997 and 2007. Its popularity peaked in 2007 with a net approval rating of 79 percentage points.[11]

2010s–present

[edit]

Sexual assault allegations

[edit]

Since 2014, there have been reports of police officers involved in sexual assaults on female victims. In one high-profile case involving an officer with six years' service molesting a female within Police Headquarters toilet, the officer was convicted of indecent assault and abuse of power.[12][13] There had been an incident in 2008, when a woman was raped inside Mong Kok police station by a policeman.[14]

In 2021, a former policeman was sentenced to five-year imprisonment on Tuesday after a sentence review, in which he originally got 46 months in jail for indecently assaulting six underage girls. He pleaded guilty to 8 counts of indecent assault and unlawful sexual intercourse committed between 2017 and 2018 when he was still in the force. Originally released on bail, he was arrested again after committing another crime resulting in the present sentence.[15][16][17]

2014 Umbrella Movement

[edit]

Police brutality allegations

[edit]

Police were criticized for violently attacking protesters in October 2014,[18] as well as for allegedly colluding with triads and thugs against peaceful protesters.[19][20][21]

Seven officers were convicted and sentenced to two years in prison in early 2017, after a video tape surfaced of them beating a handcuffed protester in police custody on 15 October 2014, sparking outrage and accusations of police brutality.[22][23][24][25] The commissioner of police, pro-Beijing politicians, and thousands of members of the police unions publicly supported the convicted officers.[26][27]

As a result of Andy Tsang's unpopular decisions and comments as Chief of Police, critics nicknamed him "Vulture".[9] The approval rating of the police declined from mid-2012 to 2015 with the record low net approval of 21 percentage points set in early 2015.[11]

According to the Wall Street Journal, Tsang was responsible for politicization of the police during his tenure and aligning policing objectives with the state.[28] Police failure to respond to assaults against certain groups, heavy-handed treatment of protesters during the "Umbrella Revolution",[9] deployment of riot police and 87 instances of tear gas use against unarmed students, caused disquiet among the public and some senior police staffers.[9][29] The police were seen to have become a political tool in support of a governance system that is overseeing the replacement of rule of law with "rule by law" as defined by the CCP.[10][28][30][19][31] Fung Wai-wah, president of the Professional Teachers' Union, commented that "the police [during the Umbrella Revolution] have made themselves enemy of the people [literally overnight]".[30]

Failure to prosecute a police superintendent for assault

[edit]

The Hong Kong Police came under fire for failing to charge police superintendent Franklin Chu King-wai, now retired, who was filmed hitting civilians with a police baton when uniformed officers were directing a line of passers-by to move along after a protest in Mong Kok on 26 November 2014.[32] The day before Chu was due to retire in July 2015, the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) established by a majority decision that a complaint against Chu was justified. The internal Complaints Against Police Office (CAPO) disagreed and sought legal advice from the Department of Justice.[33] Chu was eventually charged, convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment.[34]

Misuse of care and protection orders allegations

[edit]

In December 2014, the police caused concern when they applied for Care and Protection Orders (CPO) for two youths, one of whom was arrested during the protests.[35] Police arrested one 14-year-old male for contempt of court during the clearance of Mong Kok and applied for a CPO.[35][36] The CPO was cancelled four weeks later when the Department of Justice decided that they would not prosecute.[35]

In a second case, a 14-year-old female who drew a chalk flower onto the Lennon Wall on 23 December 2014 was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, detained by police for 17 hours, and then held against her will in a children's home for 20 days, but was never charged with any crime.[37] A magistrate decided in favor of a CPO pursuant to a police application, deeming it "safer." The incident created uproar as she was taken away from her hearing-impaired father, and was unable to go to school.[38][39][40] On 19 January, another magistrate rescinded the protection order for "Chalk Girl" (粉筆少女) after reviewing a report from a social worker.[41] The handling of the situation by the police raised concerns, as there was no explanation as to why the police failed to locate and consult a social worker before applying for the order in accordance with proper procedures.[42] The controversy gained international attention, and The Guardian produced a short documentary film, titled "The Infamous Chalk Girl" which was released in 2017.[43][44] Use of the CPO device against minors involved in the Umbrella Movement was seen as "white terror" to deter young people from protesting and exercising free speech.[35]

Framing allegations

[edit]

In May 2015, a man was arrested, detained from 2 to 4 May for in excess of 48 hours and wrongfully accused of murder.[45] The man was autistic, and the police failure to handle such a case sparked controversy.[45][46] According to the police, the suspect made a written confession of an assault that contradicted severely with statements obtained whilst interviewed with family members. A nursing home later offered the suspect an alibi, corroborated with video evidence, that the man could not have been at the alleged crime scene.[46] Civil rights activists condemned the incident which traumatized a vulnerable individual, and criticized the police procedures including not proposing legal representation, lengthy detention, an methods for obtaining a bogus confession. The police chief expressed "regret" but refused to make an apology.[46] Also in May 2015, police procedures for conducting identity parades attracted controversy when suspects in an assault case on television reporters were allowed to wear shower caps and face masks during an identity parade, ostensibly to cover distinctive features, leading to the police abandoning the case due to insufficient evidence. The police stance was confirmed by the new Chief Commissioner.[47][48]

Revisionism allegations

[edit]

In mid-September 2015, media reported that the police had made material deletions from its website concerning "police history", in particular, the political cause and the identity of the groups responsible for the 1967 riots. Mention of communists and Maoists were expunged: for example, "Bombs were made in classrooms of left-wing schools and planted indiscriminately on the streets" became "Bombs were planted indiscriminately on the streets"; the fragment "waving aloft the Little Red Book and shouting slogans" disappeared, and an entire sentence criticizing the hypocrisy of wealthy pro-China businessmen, the so-called "red fat cats" was deleted.[49][50] The editing gave rise to criticisms that it was being sanitized, to make it appear that the British colonial government, rather than leftists, were responsible. Stephen Lo, the new Commissioner of Police, said the content change of the official website was to simplify it for easier reading; Lo denied that there were any political motives, but his denials left critics unconvinced.[50][51]

In October 2015 the Police Public Relations Bureau launched a Facebook page in a bid to improve its public image. The page was immediately inundated with tens of thousands of critical comments, many asking why the seven officers who beat the handcuffed protester a year earlier had not been arrested. In response, the police held a press conference and warned of "criminal consequences" for online behavior.[52]

Stolen bail money allegations

[edit]

A police sergeant at the Wan Chai Police Station allegedly absconded on 1 May 2016 with HK$1.07 million (US$140,000) in bail funds. A man remanded on bail who reported to the station on 25 May 2016 claimed that an officer told him that the police could not be held liable for the missing money, and made him sign a waiver of claims in relation to the bail money he had posted previously.[32][53] Although police public relations quickly apologized for the "misunderstanding" that had occurred at the Wan Chai station, media criticized top management for being equivocal and evasive about the accountability of the station and also about whether the police officers responsible for the waiver response would be disciplined.[32]

2019–20 Hong Kong protests

[edit]
An officer holding a revolver in Wong Tai Sin

In the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests, police were criticized for using excessive force.[54] On 12 June, they had fired 150 tear gas rounds, 20 beanbag shots, several rubber bullets and smoke bombs on protesters outside the Legislative Council complex.[55] The New York Times released a video essay showing tear gas was deployed as an "offensive weapon" and that in several cases, unarmed protesters were beaten and dragged by police commanders.[56] Commissioner of Police Stephen Lo dismissed those complaints, stating that 22 officers were hurt during the protest and suitable force had been used.[57]

On 21 June 2019, Amnesty International examined various video footage and concluded that the Hong Kong police had used excessive force in 14 incidents.[58] They published a report, documenting the use of excessive force, and stated that there were numerous violations of international law regarding use of force by Hong Kong police officers against unarmed civilians.[59]

On 23 June 2019, a press conference was jointly held by representatives from the Medical, Health Services, and Legal sectors. 82 election committees from the Medical, Health Services, and Legal function constituencies signed a joint proclamation stating that the police had arrested five people seeking public hospital treatment and also verbally threatened some nurses to try to obtain patient details. The signatories urged the police to stop interfering with hospital treatment and to respect patient confidentiality.[60]

Throughout the period, there are numerous cases where the police officers on duty did not show their warrant cards despite it being a legal requirement for them to do so.[61] There are also numerous documented cases where police officers either refused to show the warrant card when requested by the press or citizens, or simply ignored the requests.[62][63][64][65] None of the members of the Special Tactical Squad deployed on 12 June showed the police ID number as it was claimed by the Secretary for Security John Lee that the uniform design did not allow the ID number be displayed.[66] The police refused to provide the ID number for the squad as "it would hinder the investigation of crimes and affect public safety".[67] This prevented the general public from complaining about the police officers and raised controversies.[68] A police spokesperson stated that police officers were not required to wear the warrant card all the time;[69] on the other hand, the official police television programme "Police Report", stated the opposite.[70]

On 30 June 2019, a police-support campaign were held in Tamar Park. There were video recordings showing respectively, (1) a legislative council member being assaulted by a small group of police supporters,[71] an anti-extradition bill protester being pushed to the ground and beaten by a group of police supporters,[72] the police was present and did not arrest anyone on the spot. There was a video allegedly showing that after a police supporter assaulted a protester, the person was released immediately without having had their details taken down, whilst a detained protester held for 15 minutes was not allowed to leave unless the protester drop the charge.[73]

On 8 July 2019, a man claimed that a police officer declared that the police do not need to show the warrant card while performing their duties[74] and Tan Wenhao, a member of the Civic Party in the Legislative Council, claimed that journalists were knocked down by an advancing police riot shield wall.[75] Following these incidents, lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting requested an independent investigation into police conduct, called for a review of video that may show the use of excessive force, and stated that failure to have warrant cards visibly displayed may be a violation of the law.[76] Reporters have captured videos which show people who appear to be protestors beating private citizens and vandalizing cars.[77] Some protestors are reportedly associated with a radical group Valiant Frontier[78] which has been reported to have used violence in the past.[79] A report on 17 August 2019, citing a recent poll, stated that most residents would not denounce the group[80] despite not agreeing with their method.

By September 2019, the self-proclaimed Citizens’ Press Conference announced that public satisfaction with the police had declined to a record .02 percent on a scale of zero to 10 in their online poll, with roughly 120,000 of the poll respondents – or 87 percent – giving the police force a rating of zero.[81] The ratings represented the lowest level since 1997 and lower than that of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison. Soon after the Extradition Bill protests, Amnesty International published a report on the unlawful use of force by the Hong Kong Police Force, including the dangerous use of rubber bullets, officers beating protesters who did not resist, aggressive tactics used by police to obstruct journalists on site and the misuse of tear gas.[82]

Yuen Long attack

[edit]

On 21 July 2019, a mob of over 100 armed men dressed in white indiscriminately attacked civilians on the streets and passengers in the Yuen Long MTR station.[83][84] An MTR spokesman said workers at the station saw disputes taking place at about 10:45 pm and immediately contacted police within two minutes.[85] However, the police officers only arrived at around 11:15 pm, when the mob was gone, despite receiving many other citizens' call to 999 for help.[86] Residents also reported being ignored and treated rudely by 999 responders, who claimed they "should stay at home if they are afraid". Upon arrival, police were surrounded by dozens of angry residents and protesters who accused police of deliberately retreating after being called to the scene for the first assault.[87]

Prince Edward station attack

[edit]
Hong Kong police storm Prince Edward station and attack civilians on 31 August 2019

The Prince Edward station attack on 31 August 2019, also known as the 831 incident or Prince Edward terrorist attack,[88][89][90] refers to an indiscriminate[91][92][93] attack towards passengers by the Hong Kong police after a protest at the night on 31 August 2019 for the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests in the Prince Edward station, Mong Kok.[94][95]

Chinese University of Hong Kong conflict

[edit]

On 11 November 2019, the police stormed onto the campus of Chinese University of Hong Kong to conduct arrests without the permission of the university, in response to the disruption of traffic by the protesters on 11 November morning. From 11 to 12 November, the police have total fired over 1,000 tear gas and other kinds of non-lethal bullets to the students and protestors inside the campus.

Allegations against police in the Reclaim protests
[edit]

On 6 July 2019, some activists tried to remove groups of singers and viewers from the park. The police was accused of selective enforcement. A viewer who assaulted an activist were protected by the police and sent to a taxi, without a proper investigation of the confrontation. A group of police held an activist on the ground, pulled off his surgical mask, took photos of his face and recorded his ID without reason. Around 50 police officers surround a toilet for hours, in the process refusing to let a woman suffering a chronic illness to use the toilet because one of the singers was in it.[96][97]

On 13 July 2019, in the Reclaim Sheung Shui protest, police was accused of chasing an innocent man who then jumped off a bridge in panic, there was a number of allegations of excessive force and abuse of power, including police refusing to show their ID number.[98][99]

On 14 July 2019, in the Reclaim Sha Tin protest, police blocked multiple exit routes, leaving a single route for protesters to go in a Shopping mall in Sha Tin. The police then blocked the MTR station, trapping protesters and bystanders in the Shopping Mall. Police then stormed the shopping mall and assaulted the citizens inside, protesters and bystanders alike. It is claimed that police intentionally applied excessive force that would cause permanently injuries to protesters, including bending the wrist of an unconscious detainee by 180-degree, and poking the eyeball of a protester.[100][101]

Property controversy

[edit]

In April to May 2020, senior members of the police were implicated in illegal housing controversies. A report by Apple Daily alleged Assistant Commissioner Rupert Dover to have illegally occupied and extended his house.[102] It was also reported by Ming Pao that another house was operated illegally as a guesthouse by Dover.[103] Apple Daily also accused police chief Chris Tang of turning a blind eye to illegal structures on an apartment he previously rented. The police denied any wrongdoing by Tang.[104] Chief Superintendent David John Jordan and Superintendent Vasco Gareth Llewellyn Williams have also been accused of illegal extensions on their respective properties.[105]

Police Commissioner Chris Tang has accused Apple Daily's attacks on senior officers of being retaliation for the 18 April arrest of the paper's founder, Jimmy Lai.[106]

2019–2020 coronavirus outbreak

[edit]

Stockpiling controversy

[edit]

During the coronavirus outbreak in 2020, the police force was accused for stockpiling protective gear while leaving other government departments and medical workers short of masks. Legislator Kwok Ka-ki stated that the police stockpiled around 640,000 surgical masks and 13,000 N95 respirators, and intended to acquire 64,000 more face coverings in the next two months. Police defended themselves, stating that Kwok has made "unfounded allegations".[107]

RTHK news satire show Headliner also satirized the controversy in a sketch performed by Wong He where he was dressed as a police officer. Police force issued an official complaint, stating that they express "extreme regret" and argued that the supply is needed for a large workforce.[108]

Dinner with celebrities

[edit]

In February 2020, a leaked video showed that Chris Tang, the Police Commissioner and other senior officers at a private dinner with Jackie Chan, Eric Tsang and Alan Tam. They were without face masks despite the government's appeal to limit social interactions amid the coronavirus outbreak.[109] Legislators criticized the police for defying government recommendations and making inappropriate flattering remarks.[110]

Sundry incidents

[edit]

November 2012

[edit]

In November 2012, taxi driver Chan Fai-wong was arrested at the Western Harbour Crossing following a fare dispute with a passenger. Chan refused to get into a police van, and was subsequently put in a chokehold by police and dragged by his neck into the van. He suffered a cervical vertebra dislocation and died a month later from complications resulting from the injury. While most of the involved officers argued they had used legal force, a coroner's court inquest ruled in 2018 that Chan had been killed unlawfully by the police.[111]

May 2020

[edit]

Two off-duty policemen were arrested during a raid of an illegal gambling den. The pair were suspended.[112] Two officers caught up in a sting operation involving crystal methamphetamine with a street value of HK$14 million ($2 million) were suspected of having sourced the narcotics from a 300 kg consignment seized the previous month;[113] the charge sheet of the arrested strangely omitted narcotics type, quantity, and the defendants' occupation.[114] In the same month, riot squad officers were filmed entering a convenience store while on duty, made off with a bottle of water without paying while calling out loudly "Coming back". After the footage was published on social media, the public relations section of the HKPF said they subsequently visited the store and paid for the water.[115]

Epoch Times

[edit]

From 2006 to 2021, 6 attacks against The Epoch Times happened in Hong Kong; none of the 6 attacks led to prosecutions.[116]

Oriental Daily

[edit]

In February 2023, the police sent a letter to Oriental Daily, criticizing a video commentary on the police force's performance. The police said the newspaper had acted in an "unprofessional, irresponsible, and biased criticism made in a mocking manner."[117]

Tear gas debris

[edit]

Following a training exercise, police left behind hundreds of spent tear gas canisters on one of the Soko Islands, sometime between November 2022 and February 2023.[118]

Abby Choi

[edit]

In February 2023, a former officer was arrested, on being suspected of masterminding the murder of Abby Choi in Lung Mei Tsuen.[119]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Sinclair, Kevin. (1983). Asia's Finest: An Illustrated Account of the Royal Hong Kong police. Unicorn: London. ISBN 978-9622320024
  2. ^ "The Modern Era 1945–1967", PDF file, Hong Kong Police Force (http://www.police.gov.hk/info/doc/history/chapter02_en.pdf Archived 5 October 2019 at the Wayback Machine : retrieved 10 March 2017).
  3. ^ Wiltshire, Trea (1997). Old Hong Kong. Volume II: 1901–1945 (5th ed.). FormAsia Books. p. 148. ISBN 962-7283-13-4.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Creating a Legend 1967–1994", PDF file, Hong Kong Police Force (http://www.police.gov.hk/info/doc/history/chapter03_en.pdf Archived 5 October 2019 at the Wayback Machine : retrieved 10 March 2017).
  5. ^ a b McCoy, Alfred (1980). Drug Traffic: Narcotics and Organised Crime in Australia Archived 28 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Sydney Australia: Harper & Row Pty Ltd. p. 33. ISBN 0063120313
  6. ^ "Police chief who tore the mask of corruption from force", South China Morning Post (http://www.scmp.com/article/517892/police-chief-who-tore-mask-corruption-force Archived 10 October 2019 at the Wayback Machine : 27 September 2015).
  7. ^ "About ICAC: Brief History", Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption (http://www.icac.org.hk/en/about/history/index.html Archived 9 October 2019 at the Wayback Machine : retrieved 15 March 2017).
  8. ^ Stephen Vines (14 November 1997). "Hong Kong: A corrupt police force haunted by its criminal record". The Independent. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  9. ^ a b c d Te-Ping Chen; Lorraine Luk; Prudence Ho (4 October 2014). "Hong Kong Police's Use of Tear Gas During Protests Hurts Reputation of 'Asia's Finest'". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Hong Kong police charge leaves protesters injured". Business Insider. 18 October 2014. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  11. ^ a b "熱血時報 – 市民對警隊滿意率紀律部隊中最低". Passion Times. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  12. ^ "CID涉警總摸女醫生胸 搜身看私處兩秒 遭加控公職人員行為失當". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 10 April 2015. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  13. ^ "警員警總內非禮女疑犯罪成 裁判官面紅耳赤狠批濫用公權力". Ming Pao. 6 November 2015. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  14. ^ "Police investigator in dock for indecent assault". EJ Insight. 16 January 2015. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  15. ^ Standard, The. "Former cop re-sentenced to five years in jail for indecent assault". The Standard. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Hong Kong police officer gets 46 months in jail for sexually abusing underage girls | Coconuts". coconuts.co/. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Hong Kong policeman jailed for 46 months for sexually assaulting underage girls". South China Morning Post. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  18. ^ Browne, Andrew; Chen, Te-Ping; Steger, Isabella (4 October 2014). "Clashes Break Out at Hong Kong Protest Site". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  19. ^ a b Dapiran, Antony (15 Dec 2014). "Mixed legacy for Hong Kong's Umbrella Movement" Archived 27 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Business Spectator.
  20. ^ Branigan, Tania; Batty, David (4 October 2014). "Hong Kong legislator says government using triads against protesters". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  21. ^ "Hong Kong clashes continue in Mong Kok". CNN. 3 October 2014. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  22. ^ "US calls for swift probe into Hong Kong police brutality". EJ Insight. 17 October 2014. Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  23. ^ Hong Kong police arrest 7 officers for beating protester Archived 27 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press, USA Today. 27 November 2014.
  24. ^ Wright, DS (15 October 2014). "Hong Kong Police Officers Suspended After Video of Beating Occupy Central Protester Goes Viral". firedoglake.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  25. ^ "Hong Kong Police Officers Suspended After Allegedly Beating Pro-Democracy Protester". HuffPost. 15 October 2014. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  26. ^ "LIVE: Over 30,000 police union members rally around 7 officers who assaulted pro-democracy activist". Hong Kong Free Press. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  27. ^ "33,000 gather in support of Hong Kong officers jailed for beating up Occupy protester Ken Tsang", South China Morning Post (http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/2073069/mass-meeting-police-support-hong-kong-officers-jailed-beating-occupy Archived 24 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine : 22 February 2017)
  28. ^ a b "The Decline of Hong Kong's Police". The Wall Street Journal. 7 May 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  29. ^ David Tweed (2 October 2014). "Tear Gas Erodes Hong Kong Police Force's Hard-Won Reputation". Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  30. ^ a b "Hong Kong: Massive anti-government protests after attempted police crackdown". chinaworker.info. 1 October 2014. Archived from the original on 30 November 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  31. ^ "Hong Kong police to remove protesters from streets after court order". Los Angeles Times. 9 December 2014. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  32. ^ a b c "See how decadent police and pro-establishment camp have become". EJ Insight. 31 May 2016. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  33. ^ "Police believed to have begun criminal probe on Franklin Chu". EJ Insight. 22 February 2016. Archived from the original on 9 September 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  34. ^ "Former senior Hong Kong police officer jailed for baton assault during democracy protest". Reuters. 3 January 2018. Archived from the original on 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  35. ^ a b c d Lau, Chris (13 January 2015). "Police won't seek protection order for Hong Kong teen arrested during Occupy clearance". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  36. ^ Khan, Natasha (18 December 2014). "Schoolboy May Lose Parents as Repercussions Dawn in Hong Kong". Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  37. ^ Wong, Vicky (31 December 2014). "Teen arrested for drawing with chalk on wall at Hong Kong protest site". CNN. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  38. ^ "Girl, 14 who drew flower on Hong Kong's 'Lennon Wall' sent to Children's Home". Agence France-Presse. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  39. ^ "Teen arrested for drawing with chalk on wall at Hong Kong protest site". CNN. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 3 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  40. ^ Chu, Julie (1 January 2015). "Girl sent to children's home for drawing flowers on Occupy's 'Lennon Wall' freed after outcry". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  41. ^ "Hong Kong protest 'graffiti teen' allowed to stay with family". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  42. ^ Chu, Julie (19 January 2015). "Chalk Girl who drew on Occupy 'Lennon Wall' released as court refuses to put her in children's home". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  43. ^ Young, San San F. "The Infamous Chalk Girl". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  44. ^ Young, San San F. (25 May 2017). "The Infamous Chalk Girl". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2019 – via Vimeo.
  45. ^ a b Ngo, Jennifer (15 May 2015). "Autistic man wrongly arrested by police over murder could suffer long-term effects, say experts". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  46. ^ a b c "警員行使權力前 請想想「良心究竟是什麼」". Stand News (in Chinese). Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  47. ^ "New Hong Kong police chief says suspects have rights as he is drawn into row over identity parade". South China Morning Post. 4 May 2015. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  48. ^ "Suspects in reporters' assault wore masks, caps in police lineup". EJ Insight. 4 May 2015. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  49. ^ "Police rewrite history of 1967 Red Guard riots". Hong Kong Free Press. 14 September 2015. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  50. ^ a b "Why are the police tampering with 1967 riots history?". EJ Insight. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  51. ^ "Police chief defends editing of '1967 riots' history on website". EJ Insight. 16 September 2015. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  52. ^ Zeng, Vivienne (6 October 2015). "Police warn of 'criminal consequences' after Facebook page is flooded with abuse". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  53. ^ "Police accused of forcing man into waiver after bail money theft". EJ Insight. 27 May 2016. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  54. ^ Ives, Mike; Stevenson, Alexandra (13 June 2019). "Hong Kong Police Face Criticism Over Force Used at Protests". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  55. ^ Avenue, Human Rights Watch | 350 Fifth; York, 34th Floor | New (12 June 2019). "Hong Kong: Police Shouldn't Use Excessive Force". Human Rights Watch. Archived from the original on 13 June 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  56. ^ Marcolini, Barbara; Willis, Haley; Hernández, Javier C.; May, Tiffany; Chen, Elsie; Jordan, Drew; O'Neill, Shane (14 July 2019). "Visual Investigation: Did Hong Kong Police Abuse Protesters? What the Videos Show" (video). The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  57. ^ "Did police use excessive force to deal with Hong Kong protests?". South China Morning Post. 14 June 2019. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  58. ^ Hernández, Javier C.; Marcolini, Barbara; Willis, Haley; Jordan, Drew; Felling, Meg; May, Tiffany; Chen, Elsie (30 June 2019). "Did Hong Kong Police Abuse Protesters? What Videos Show: Tear-gassed, beaten and dragged. Experts in crowd control say the Hong Kong police used excessive force on protesters during a demonstration in June". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  59. ^ "How not to police a protest: Unlawful use of force by Hong Kong Police". Amnesty International. 21 June 2019. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  60. ^ "Police snooping on patients, health workers claim". RTHK. Archived from the original on 23 June 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  61. ^ "General Enquiries | Hong Kong Police Force". Government of Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  62. ^ "便衣警拍攝示威者 拒展示委任證 警員反問記者:憑乜嘢". Stand News (in Chinese). Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  63. ^ "民主派投訴警方未有展示警員編號及委任證 | 獨媒報導". 香港獨立媒體網. 27 June 2019. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  64. ^ "【逃犯條例】民主派議員攜影片光碟赴警總 促徹查6‧12警員無戴委任證 (14:11) – 20190627 – 港聞". 明報新聞網 – 即時新聞 instant news (in Traditional Chinese). Archived from the original on 28 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  65. ^ 從台灣看見世界的故事 (17 June 2019), 便衣堅拒出示警員委任證 還聽不懂廣東話 遭質疑中國勢力混入港警|記者 賴彥宏|【國際大現場】20190617|三立新聞台, archived from the original on 28 July 2020, retrieved 30 June 2019
  66. ^ "「警服無位落編號」放生濫權速龍". Apple Daily (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  67. ^ "【引渡惡法】市民以公開資料守則索速龍小隊編號 警方以損害調查及安寧為由拒絕". Apple Daily (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  68. ^ "【反送中】鄺俊宇質問速龍小隊無警員編號難投訴 鄺神怒批李家超:你唔好再讀稿 – 香港經濟日報 – TOPick – 新聞 – 社會". Hong Kong Economic Times (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  69. ^ "【逃犯條例.七一遊行】警稱非隨時需展示委任證 與示威者屬「伙伴」籲協調升旗禮示威安排 (19:21) – 20190629 – 港聞". 明報新聞網 (in Traditional Chinese). Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  70. ^ "《警訊》教市民分辨警員身份 網民揶揄終極割席". Stand News (in Chinese). Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  71. ^ "【撐警集會】林卓廷遭撐警市民圍毆 已報警赴瑪麗驗傷". Stand News (in Chinese). Hong Kong. 30 June 2019. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  72. ^ "【撐警暴徒】多名長者集會後圍毆路過青年 拳打腳踢扯頭髮". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 30 June 2019. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  73. ^ "【撐警暴徒】黑衣女子受襲反被查15分鐘 克警疑放生施襲撐警女士". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 30 June 2019. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  74. ^ "便衣警戴頭盔、持圓盾清場 稱執行職務毋須展示委任證". Stand News (in Cantonese). 8 July 2019. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  75. ^ "【逆權運動】防暴警「舌戰」譚文豪敗退 突向記者群推進女記者被撞跌". Apple Daily. 8 July 2019. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  76. ^ "Lawmaker demands probe into police actions". RTHK. Archived from the original on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  77. ^ "Hong Kong protests: second car rams protesters as fights break out – as it happened". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019. This driver's car windows were just smashed and the driver himself was punched.
  78. ^ "同行曬馬 勇武:視"和理非"後盾不排斥 學者稱顯尊重 運動或變"兩條腿走路"". Ming Pao. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  79. ^ "Radical Hong Kong group tied to Legco explosion participated in other local protests this year". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  80. ^ "和理非調查 87%稱不會跟勇武割席". RTHK. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  81. ^ Ng, Kang-chung (25 September 2019). "Disband Hong Kong's police force? Online poll shows most in favour of move". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  82. ^ "Document". Amnesty International. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  83. ^ "'Where were the police?' Hong Kong outcry after masked thugs launch attack". The Guardian. 22 July 2019. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  84. ^ "45 injured after mob attack at Hong Kong MTR station". Channel NewsAsia. 22 July 2019. Archived from the original on 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  85. ^ "Mob Attack at Hong Kong Train Station Heightens Seething Tensions in City". The New York Times. 22 July 2019. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  86. ^ 港鐵稱報警後警員「都有段時間」才到元朗站 – RTHK (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). RTHK. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  87. ^ At least 45 injured as rod-wielding mob dressed in white rampages through Yuen Long MTR station, beating screaming protesters Archived 22 July 2019 at the Wayback MachineSouth China Morning Post
  88. ^ "八三一恐襲比七二一恐襲可怕上千倍 | 岑敖暉 Lester". 香港獨立媒體網. Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  89. ^ "【逆權運動】親睹警恐襲市民釀屍殺列車 中年父:見後生咩色衫都打". Apple Daily (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  90. ^ "泛民批官方恐襲 建制轟黑衣無法無天 毛孟靜籲獨立調查8.31 麥美娟引述市民促行緊急法 – 20190902 – 要聞". 明報新聞網 (in Traditional Chinese). Archived from the original on 15 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  91. ^ "【民報】香港831汽油彈、水炮車徹夜激戰 警無差別打人稱「適當武力」". peoplenews.tw (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 1 September 2019. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  92. ^ "【香港831遊行】港警胡椒噴霧、持警棍無差別攻擊 太子站乘客頭破血流". Mirror Media (in Chinese). 1 September 2019. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  93. ^ "【831 ‧ 不斷更新】港九多個港鐵站關閉 警衝入太子站無差別打人 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞". Stand News (in Chinese). Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  94. ^ "【逆權運動】721=831 速龍太子站闖月台車廂亂棍毆乘客 無辜市民被襲後相擁痛哭". Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  95. ^ "【專訪】目睹 8.31 太子站市民被毆 中年廚師:警察比 7.21 白衣人更恐怖 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞". Stand News (in Chinese). Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 15 September 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  96. ^ "【果燃台LIVE】萬人屯門遊行後爆衝突警噴椒 數百市民晚上屯門警署外聚集". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 6 July 2019. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  97. ^ "數千市民遊行「光復屯門公園」 與警對峙 與老翁爭執". Stand News (in Chinese). Hong Kong. 6 July 2019. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  98. ^ "Suspect in 'panic' bridge jump attempt as two arrested over Hong Kong protests". South China Morning Post. 14 July 2019. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  99. ^ Creery, Jennifer (13 July 2019). "'Reclaim Sheung Shui': Thousands of Hongkongers protest influx of parallel traders from China". Hong Kong Free Press. Archived from the original on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  100. ^ "警阻示威者散去 議員斥草菅人命 浴血新城市". Apple Daily (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  101. ^ "Over 40 arrests, 22 hospitalised in Sha Tin clashes, as police chief condemns 'thugs' and defends decision to storm mall". Hong Kong Free Press. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  102. ^ "【蘋果踢爆】陶輝私竇曝光!助理警務處長開公司賣冷氣零件 報住清水灣寮屋疑違法". Archived from the original on 29 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  103. ^ "陶輝涉辦無牌民宿 民政署跟進 牌照屋疑霸官地僭建 地署證限儲物用途". Ming Pao (in Chinese). 2 May 2020. Archived from the original on 10 May 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  104. ^ "Police dismiss media accusations of inaction by chief over illegal works". South China Morning Post. 4 May 2020. Archived from the original on 4 May 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  105. ^ "Explainer: Hong Kong police top brass embroiled in property scandals". Hong Kong Free Press. 4 May 2020. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  106. ^ "Hong Kong police chief accuses newspaper of running targeted campaign against him". South China Morning Post. 5 May 2020. Archived from the original on 8 May 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  107. ^ "Hong Kong police reject claims they are stockpiling masks for officers". South China Morning Post. 17 February 2020. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  108. ^ Standard, The. "Heat mounts in police-RTHK fight". The Standard. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  109. ^ "Videos of Hong Kong officers dining with pro-police entertainers goes viral". South China Morning Post. 18 February 2020. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  110. ^ "Top cop slammed over celebrity dinner despite curbs". RTHK. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  111. ^ Lau, Chris (24 October 2018). "Taxi driver who died after being put in headlock during police arrest was 'killed unlawfully'". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 22 May 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  112. ^ "Police arrest two officers on gambling charges". RTHK. Archived from the original on 25 May 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  113. ^ Creery, Jennifer (8 May 2020). "Hong Kong police arrest 2 officers for possession of crystal meth". Hong Kong Free Press.
  114. ^ "涉私吞冰毒警提堂 控罪書沒提職業、毒品類型". 每日明報. Archived from the original on 25 May 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  115. ^ "防暴警執勤間擅取便利店樽裝水不付款 事件曝光後公共關係科警員回店付費". Stand News (in Chinese). Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  116. ^ Cheng, Selina (6 November 2021). "Zero prosecutions: Hong Kong police close investigation into the sixth attack against Epoch Times or its staff". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  117. ^ Chau, Candice (3 February 2023). "Hong Kong pro-Beijing newspaper Oriental Daily hits back at police criticism over 'biased' video commentary - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP". hongkongfp.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  118. ^ Grundy, Tom (21 February 2023). "Exclusive: Hong Kong police leave 100s of spent tear gas rounds on marine park island after exercise". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  119. ^ "Ex-husband of murdered Hong Kong model arrested in Tung Chung". South China Morning Post. 25 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
[edit]