Ted Hui can't follow simple instructions: police

Ted Hui can't follow simple instructions: police

The police have explained why an officer ripped goggles off the face of Democratic Party lawmaker Ted Hui before pepper spraying him in Causeway Bay on Wednesday night, saying the legislator had been engaged in "passive resistance".



Senior superintendent Kong Wing-cheung said at the force's press briefing on Thursday that Hui was among a group of people deliberately provoking officers and refusing to leave the area when asked.



His colleagues therefore needed to pull Hui's goggles off and spray him in the face to effectively drive him away, Kong said.



The senior superintendent added that he didn't understand why Hui couldn't follow a simple instruction to return to the pavement.



At the time of the incident, Hui had been urging police to show restraint during their protest clearance operation in Causeway Bay.



Civic Party legislator and barrister Alvin Yeung told RTHK that the pepper spraying might have amounted to an assault.