Hong Kong protests handled worse than Gaza crisis, says doctor who led Occupy Central medical team

Medics who helped out during last year’s pro-democracy sit-ins should not face punishment for offering humanitarian aid, the leader of the 300-strong medical team that provided support during Occupy.

A year to the day since scenes of police firing tear gas at protesters stunned the world as pro-democracy activists took to the streets of Admiralty, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok, Dr Au Yiu-kai spoke out on behalf of the doctors, nurses and medical students who helped.

READ MORE: One year on, relive the Post's Occupy live blog

His comments came after a public hospital doctor who lent a hand at a first-aid station in Admiralty revealed he was investigated by the Medical Council over a professional misconduct complaint – though he was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing.

Au, a consultant surgeon at Kwong Wah Hospital in Yau Ma Tei, argued there was nothing wrong with medics lending a hand, even if recipients were taking part in what was condemned as an unlawful assembly.

Some 80 per cent of the medical team, which set up 13 booths in the three occupied zones, was made up of medical and nursing students, Au said.

READ MORE: Doctors 'probed by watchdog' for joining Occupy medical team

“All these students are registered under my team,” Au told the South China Morning Post. “I have briefed them about the possible legal consequences and have all their information recorded. In case something happen to them in future – such as arrests – I would defend them … as they were only offering humanitarian relief to the participants.”