Burnt by acid, but cop ‘will serve’

HONG KONG: BACK TO FIGHT OFF PROTESTS AFTER HEALING

About 600 officers are injured in 2019, with 2 600 protesters being treated.

Nine months ago, he was burned by corrosive liquid hurled during antigovernment protests, but Hong Kong police officer Ling says he has no regrets and remains devoted to being a law enforcer.

Officers like Ling have formed the spear tip of Beijing’s pushback against huge and often violent pro-democracy protests in the restless finance hub.

Seven months of clashes last year have left the city bitterly divided, with swathes of the population loathing police – and many officers feeling they have been unfairly vilified.

Now, the police have been given expanded powers under a sweeping new national security law imposed by Beijing that aims to crush the democracy movement once and for all.

“It’s undeniable that Hong Kong is part of China. It’s reasonable to set up a national security law on Chinese territory,” Ling said.

“Every law is a tool. Your decision to violate this law makes us enforce it,” the 38 year old added, asking to use a pseudonym because he feared reprisals from protesters.

Over the past year, police have arrested more than 9 000 people during clashes and demonstrations against Beijing’s tightening grip on the semi-autonomous city.

Rights groups accuse riot officers of deploying excessive force during arrests, crowd dispersals and in detention.

But police have rejected all allegations of brutality, saying the force has matched the violence shown by protesters. No officer has been fired for their actions.

Ling has paid a personal price for his work – his neck and chest sport a patch of twisted skin.

He was struck by corrosive liquid on 1 October when unrest swept through the city on China’s National Day. Others, including reporters, were wounded in the same attack.

Ling’s uniform dissolved in front of his eyes.

The initial searing pain faded as his nerve endings dissolved.

But the healing process was excruciating as they grew back, aided by five surgeries, including skin grafts.

Ling, who returned to street duty in January, said he tried not to think about his attacker.

“It would be a good thing if he was caught but if not, it’s meaningless to go down that blind alley,” he said.

Police say about 600 officers were injured in last year’s protests. Last week, an officer was stabbed in the shoulder during demonstrations against the new security law.

At least 2 600 protesters and bystanders have been treated in hospital, although the real figure is likely higher because many sought underground treatment, fearing arrest on wards. – AFP