Sex attack victims should contact us: EOC chief

Ricky Chu says it's hard for the watchdog to look into suspicions of police sex attacks solely based on photo or video evidence. Photo: RTHK

The chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) on Monday urged any victims of sexual assault relating to the anti-government protests to file reports to the watchdog.



Ricky Chu said that since June, the EOC has received more than a hundred protest related enquiries, most of them over concerns that police officers are sexually assaulting some of the protesters they arrest.



But he said many of these enquiries referred to photos or videos of alleged abuse, and this made it difficult for the watchdog to investigate the suspicions.



In an interview with RTHK, Chu said he would therefore urge any victims to contact the EOC directly.



He also said he was concerned that the ongoing protests are affecting the daily lives of disabled people, with some complaining that they are struggling to cross roads where the traffic lights have been destroyed, and that some lifts at MTR stations are out of action after being vandalised.



Chu, who is a former secretary-general of the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC), also suggested that the police watchdog should hold monthly briefings on the fact-finding study it is carrying out into the extradition bill crisis.



He said giving the public regular updates on the study would increase transparency and boost trust in the IPCC