HK cops face probe over use of force

HONG KONG: Hong Kong lawmakers grilled the city’s security secretary yesterday over allegations of police brutality during protests over an extradition bill that eventually was suspended.

The agenda for the meeting showed that pro-democracy members were planning to file a motion of no-confidence for Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s handling of the legislation, which sparked the demonstrations over recent weeks including a massive march on Sunday.

The opposition lawmakers were wearing black with white ribbons pinned to their lapels. They put white chrysanthemums, another symbol of mourning, on their desks, and observed a few moments of silence in mourning for a protester who died in a fall last weekend.

The debate, aired online in both Chinese and English itself was a reminder of the divide between Hong Kong, where officials are held publicly accountable and dissent is expected, and the communist-ruled mainland, where such open criticism is not tolerated.

Security Secretary John Lee rejected suggestions that he should resign to take responsibility for police use of aggressive tactics, including beatings with steel batons and heavy use of tear gas. He also defended the decisions made on the scene.

Some of the lawmakers questioned the criticism, saying the police themselves were concerned about their own safety when faced with hostile protesters, some of whom hurled bricks and other debris.

Pro-democracy lawmaker Gary Fan said that police encircled some protesters without warning and fired four rounds of tear gas. The demonstrators “ran for their lives” into a building, Mr Fan said.

“The people didn’t have anywhere to escape from the scene,” he said. “How can this be a minimal use of force?”

Mr Lee reiterated Ms Lam’s insistence that the complaints against police would be handled through agencies established to deal with such issues.

Ms Lam formally apologised on Tuesday and said she was responsible for the extradition bill mess. The fact that she did not shed tears or bow in apology was front-page news, with many in Hong Kong criticising what they said was an apparent lack of contrition.

The motion of no-confidence against Ms Lam was likely to be voted down or boycotted by the majority pro-government legislators. Most did not show up for the questioning session over complaints against police.

Critics of the extradition bill, which would allow some suspects to be extradited to stand trial in mainland courts, want Ms Lam to permanently withdraw the legislation and to step down. They also are demanding the government guarantee that protest participants not be unfairly accused of rioting if they did not commit crimes.

Beijing-appointed Ms Lam would only say she would not revive the bill without certainty of its acceptance — signalling that it has been shelved indefinitely.

Many in Hong Kong fear a further weakening of this former British colony’s legal autonomy, promised for 50 years after Beijing took over in 1997.

One concern is that the law might be used to send critics of Communist Party rule to the mainland to face vague political charges and unfair trials.

Ms Lam has insisted the legislation is needed for Hong Kong to not become a magnet for fugitives. It would expand the scope of transfers to include Taiwan, Macau and mainland China.

Samson Yuen, a professor at Hong Kong’s Lingnan University, said the extradition bill is like a “knife at the throat” for many in Hong Kong.

“There’s a lot of energy, emotion and passion and also anger,” he said.