A 17-year-old has spoken exclusively to Sky News about being brutally beaten by Hong Kong police after a peaceful protest.

Jacob Chu became headline news in Hong Kong when he was pictured with his head bleeding heavily after the incident.

Now for the first time, he's spoken out about his ordeal, insisting: "I did nothing bad.

Image: The teenager was in hospital for two weeks

"The police and the government should apologise because what they did was totally wrong."

The teenager was set upon by a group of officers who beat him repeatedly, including multiple times on his head. He was later released without charge.


In video footage, he can be seen cowering and trying to shield his head as the officers continued to hit him with batons. They then forced him to the ground before cuffing him.

The teenager had taken part in a peaceful protest earlier in the evening.

Image: Jacob Chu was beaten by Hong Kong police

"I was part of a human chain, holding hands protesting about democratic freedoms," he told Sky News.

He says the police ordered them to disperse and many of the youngsters went to the nearby subway station, Tai Po Market.

In footage we've obtained, about half a dozen young people can be seen vandalising the ticket turnstiles at the subway station. There is no footage which shows Jacob Chu is involved.

Instead the teenager can be seen in the background on several occasions - wandering around on his own appearing to watch what's going on. In one angle he is seen heading towards the exit.

Moments later police are filmed storming the station. The young people panic and start running themselves.

Image: The teenager needed an operation on his hand

Jacob Chu is caught between two sets of police and with nowhere to go. He is surrounded by about eight police officers who beat him multiple times.

Blood is pouring profusely from his head and he said witnesses shouted at him to tell them his name so they could call a lawyer. The policeman who was giving first aid wagged his finger at him and sternly told him to be quiet.

There have been mounting claims of police brutality during the often violent pro-democracy demonstrations in the former British colony.

Nearly 1,600 people have been arrested since the protests erupted in June but there have been multiple claims that police are exceeding their powers, abusing human rights and using excessive force, as well as making arbitrary arrests.

Image: The victim describes himself as an ordinary teenager

Amnesty International called on the city's chief executive, Carrie Lam, to "stop the abuse by the police and protect peoples' human rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly".

Jacob Chu told us: "I was just saying sorry, sorry, sorry' [to the police]... I said sorry at that time because I was very frightened that they wouldn't send me to hospital…and just send me straight to a police officer."

He added: "I was just peacefully doing nothing but I think the police are mad and they can't control their emotions.

"They think all young people are against them. But we aren't against the police, just the police behaviour.

"I don't exactly know how many times the police hit me…I can't remember. I would say this...it was constant hitting."

Image: Jacob Chu was circled by police before being forced to the floor

He was in hospital for two weeks and needed stitches in his head, as well as an operation on his hand which had to be re-set.

The trauma has affected him.

"I couldn't sleep for the first two days afterwards and when I woke up the bed was all wet. I think I was very frightened and there were some police standing outside my bed at the hospital and I felt scared," he said.

He says he's an ordinary teenager who follows Liverpool FC and enjoys playing football and basketball.

He wants to study nursing as a career.

His voice quivers often as he talks to us, choosing his words carefully and precisely.

"I am scared about speaking out," he admits. "But I want to encourage other young people to do the same. This is not good for anyone in Hong Kong."

Sky News approached Hong Kong police for comment.