Report on police use of force baseless, says govt

The government says the police have adopted a measured and restrained approach in dealing with illegal activities with appropriate and proportionate force in line with international standards. Photo:AP

The government on Thursday “strongly refuted” a Washington Post report which said Hong Kong police had repeatedly violated its own regulations governing the use of force – without facing any consequences.



The Carrie Lam administration released a statement mostly retreading key points from previous official statements, stressing that police have been responding to ‘illegal activities’ committed by protesters with “appropriate and proportionate force” in line with international standards.



"Police have adopted a measured and restrained approach”, the statement said. “Only minimum necessary force has been deployed in response to the blatant unlawful activities of the violent protesters."



The spokesman stressed that police do not initiate any action, and only respond to serious acts that endanger public safety and public order, such as “blocking roadways, paralysing traffic, setting barricades, committing arson, vandalising shops and railway facilities, hurling bricks, throwing petrol bombs, flagrantly assaulting bystanders and violently attacking police officers."



The government also said it deeply regrets the allegation by the Washington Post, which “is not based on fact.”



“Police officers are accountable for the force they use and their supervisors are present on site to oversee and ensure that the use of force is lawful”, the spokesman said.



The Post had reported that it had reviewed more than 100 pages of police protocols that show officers routinely ignore the guidelines, in using tear gas in enclosed spaces; firing water cannon without due cause; and using excessive force against people who were not putting up any resistance.



The government issued a separate statement saying it “deplores” the “unwarranted and grossly misguided” move by an organisation called ‘Stand With Hong Kong’, to invite religious and faith leaders across the UK to sign a letter to the British Prime Minister and Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to urge the UK government to "urgently ensure the lives and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong are protected".



"Specifically, we object vehemently to the organisation's remark that over the past six months, the people of Hong Kong ‘have endured suppression of their basic freedoms and human rights in their fight for justice and democracy’ and that Hong Kong people ‘are routinely subjected to police brutality and state repression’”, the spokesman said.



"This is a patently groundless, insulting and malicious accusation which must be rejected outright. Nothing can be further from the truth."