Former watchdog member Eric Cheung questions Hong Kong police bail procedures

A former member of the police watchdog has raised questions about the enforcement of bail on suspects, saying non-essential use of the power may undermine personal freedom.

The issue has gained relevance in the past few months as a number of democracy activists arrested for taking part in illegal assemblies have refused bail, instead telling the police to either press charges or let them go.

People placed on bail had to constantly report back to police, but making them do so without knowing when they would be re-arrested or charged "usurped personal freedoms", said Eric Cheung Tat-ming, who recently quit the Independent Police Complaints Council after six years of service.

In the first place, it was unnecessary to arrest a person and then grant bail if officers were unclear when their investigation would end, he said.

Cheung, who also teaches law at the University of Hong Kong, said it was possible that some frontline officers did not fully understand internal protocols for handling bail.