Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong seeks HK$45,000 police payout for July 1 protest handcuffing

Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung is seeking compensation of HK$45,000 from the police chief, claiming it was unreasonable for officers to handcuff him as he headed to a protest on July 1.

“There were about 100 people outside the Wan Chai MTR station. They surrounded us and some punched and kicked us,” he said. “But instead of asking the crowd to leave, some officers took us into a police vehicle and handcuffed me ... Later a policeman told me they were not arresting me, and I could leave the police station.”

Wong said he asked why he was handcuffed, but the officer did not answer.

He said his lawyers told him that in 2002 and 2009, there were court rulings stating that it was unlawful for police to “restrain the freedom of a person not officially arrested”.

Wong was speaking before filing legal documents at the Small Claims Tribunal in the West Kowloon Law Courts Building yesterday morning.

After filing the claim against Commissioner of Police Stephen Lo Wai-chung, Wong said the tribunal would hear the case on August 9.