Police 'double standards' fuelling anger: academic

A man suspected of attacking protesters in North Point on Sunday was seen shaking hands with a police officer. Photo: RTHK

Li Pang-kwong says the government needs to consider suspending officers suspected of irregularities. File photo: RTHK

A Lingnan University political expert has warned that the public has growing concerns about "double standards" when it comes to policing, with TV footage again appearing to show officers protecting knife-wielding attackers while arresting their victims.



Li Pang-kwong, the head of the university’s department of political science, said people could see for themselves how officers had “shielded” and escorted away cleaver-wielding men in North Point on Sunday, while arresting black-clad protesters.



On an RTHK programme, Li said the police's actions raised serious concerns about double standards in law enforcement and he doesn’t see how social discontent can be eased if the government is unwilling to tackle people's anger over the police’s handling of the ongoing anti-government protests.



Li said society’s trust for the police has dropped to a record low, and the government needs to consider suspending officers suspected of irregularities, as well as issuing statements condemning inappropriate acts in order to address the worsening situation.



He added that even though the turnout for Sunday’s protest on Hong Kong Island was lower than that of previous marches due to police banning the demonstration, it doesn’t mean people are any less upset with the government.



Police have also been accused of harbouring groups of men who attacked protesters on previous occasions this summer, with the force's delayed response to a gang rampage at Yuen Long MTR Station in July drawing the most ire.