Top Hong Kong officer defends police right to free expression

Police officers had the same rights to freedom of expression as ordinary citizens - but with "restrictions", an assistant commissioner said yesterday.

Cheung Tak-keung was responding to the issue of the required political neutrality of police officers and whether signing the anti-Occupy Central campaign would conflict with their code of conduct.

When asked on a radio programme whether police were allowed to sign, Cheung said he "[did] not see any problem" with an off-duty officer voicing his opposition to law-breaking behaviour.

"Police officers enjoy the same right of freedom of expression as ordinary citizens do, but their freedom comes with restrictions," Cheung said, referring to Police General Orders.

The orders say officers shall not take part in political activities, and "at all times abstain from any activity which is likely to interfere with the impartial discharge of duties, or which is likely to give rise to the impression amongst ... the public that it may so interfere."

Cheung's comments came as pan-democratic lawmakers lodged a petition on Friday urging Police Commissioner Andy Tsang Wai-hung to clarify whether some officers, by signing the anti-Occupy campaign, had breached their code of conduct.