‘No plan’ to criminalise insulting police in Hong Kong in wake of Occupy court case
Calls for legislation making insulting police officers a criminal offence have been made since seven officers were jailed for two years for attacking an Occupy activist
The Security Bureau said on Monday that it had no plans to introduce a new law to ban insulting behaviour against police officers, despite renewed calls for such legislation following the jailing of seven officers for the assault of an Occupy activist.
Police Commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung, also appeared hesitant on the proposal on Monday, saying such acts were already covered by existing regulations.
Speaking at the Islands District Council meeting, the police chief said he welcomed any new law that helped the work of the force, but introducing a law to ban insulting acts against policemen was complicated.
“This is a complicated matter. There are still many considerations to be done before rolling it out,” said Lo. “Existing law at the moment can bound those who do not cooperate with the force, such as assault on police officers and obstructing police officers’ execution of duties.”
Each charge carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment.