Hong Kong watchdog backs police actions against protesters
Officers used force only when their safety was under threat, report says
HONG KONG—A long-awaited report from an official Hong Kong police watchdog group issued Friday said officers used force only in response to threats to their safety during months of anti-government protests last year.
Police fired live rounds on 12 occasions when they “had reasonable suspicion of lethal force” being used or prepared against them, the Independent Police Complaints Council said in the lengthy report.
Its conclusions are unlikely to convince critics who say officers unnecessarily fired bullets, tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray to suppress the sometimes violent protests.
Although described as independent, the council is appointed by Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam, leading critics to say it ultimately serves the interests of the pro-Beijing administration rather than civil society. It has no investigative powers of its own.
The report assessed six days between June and August last year near the beginning of the protest movement, which was sparked by the Hong Kong government’s attempt to pass a bill that would have allowed suspects to be extradited from the semi-autonomous territory to face trial in mainland China. The legislation was ultimately withdrawn, but the protests continued over several complaints, including a demand that police be held accountable for their heavy-handed response.
The protests began peacefully, but at times descended into violence, with clashes between police and protesters leading to accusations that the police abused their power and even colluded with organized crime figures, who on one occasion attacked protesters and escaped mostly without being arrested.
The report found “room for improvement” in the police’s handling of clashes with protesters, making recommendations such as a review of the police operational command structure, its guidelines on the use of force and officer training.
Lam said at a news conference on Friday that the report was “comprehensive and objective” and that she will accept its recommendations.
“Hong Kong has been adopting many internationally adopted guidelines on use of force. Of course, it’s not perfect, and we could improve on that,” Anthony Neoh, chair of the council, said at a news conference.
A panel of international experts appointed to advise the council last November concluded that it lacked the power and independent investigative capacity to conduct a meaningful probe, but the council continued its work.