bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Ng Kang-chung

Clifford Lo

Tony Cheung

Chris Lau

In a latest twist to the row over the jailing of seven policemen for assaulting an Occupy activist, the Israeli consulate has weighed in to rebuke a comparison of the tribulations of officers with the persecution of Jews.
The analogy was made by a speaker at the force’s mass gathering on Wednesday, where 33,000 serving and retired officers and their relatives came together to show support for the seven.
Officers took turns taking the stage to address the crowd. One speaker was filmed comparing insults officers had received with the Nazi persecution of Jews during the second world war.
Watch: More than 30,000 gather to support jailed policemen


A video recorded by Chinese-language news outlet Apple Daily captured the speaker addressing the crowd, saying: “It’s like we’re now in the second world war. We are Jews facing the persecution of the Nazis, aren’t we?”
The crowd then shouted “yes” in response.
A statement by the Israeli consulate said: “Without relating to the trial of the seven police officers, the alleged statement at the rally that made a reference to the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany is inappropriate and regretful.
We wish no further comparison will be made to the Jewish Holocaust
Israeli consulate
We wish no further comparison will be made to the Jewish Holocaust.”
In response, Joe Chan Cho-kwong, chairman of the Junior Police Officers’ Association – which was the organiser of the event – said: “The association expresses regret if any participant in Wednesday’s gathering expressed views that offended anyone, any community, or any country.”
A police spokesman said the speech did not represent the force’s position and that the force did not agree with the remarks.
Watch: Hong Kong policemen found guilty in Occupy activist case


The seven policemen were sentenced to two years’ jail after being convicted of kicking and punching activist Ken Tsang Kin-chiu following his arrest for assaulting officers during an Occupy protest more than two years ago.
Three of the officers – Wong Cho-shing, Lau Hing-pui and Chan Siu-tan – have already lodged an appeal, according to the Department of Justice.
Joe Chan said his association had appealed to colleagues to raise money to help the families of the seven officers. The donations would not exceed 3 per cent of the monthly salaries of officers, according to the association.
Chan also said his association and three other staff associations of the force would send a joint letter to Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying as early as Friday to raise their concerns and call for legislation to ban insulting acts against public officers on duty.
Pro-establishment lawmaker Priscilla Leung Mei-fun of the Business and Professionals Alliance also said she was mulling amending laws to criminalise abuse of officers.
But Democratic Party lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting warned it would only worsen relations between the police and the public.
Leung’s party, meanwhile, said it had raised about HK$5 million to support the seven officers’ families.


Former jailed ringleader of Hong Kong’s Occupy movement Shiu Ka-chun reveals cancer battle

Nothing brings Hongkongers and mainland Chinese closer together than sports

Former Hong Kong politician ‘major backer’ of firearms purchase from US in ‘Dragon Slaying Brigade’ plot, court hears

Article 23 and the tragedy of Hong Kong

Occupy Central

Don’t compare police troubles with persecuted Jews, Israeli consulate urges

The comparison was uttered by a speaker at a gathering of police officers on Wednesday. Photo: Handout

33,000 gather in support of Hong Kong officers jailed for beating up Occupy protester Ken Tsang

Huge turnout threatens to escalate already significant chorus of criticism aimed at District Court Judge David Dufton and judiciary

Regina Ip at police meeting

Hundreds of officers are seen at a gathering inside the police club in Mong Kok. Photo: Handout

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Embassy expresses regret over speaker’s comment at mass gathering of officers; force spokesman says remarks do not represent organisation
