Advertisement

Hong Kong police broke with protocol on body cameras at protests, rights group says

  • Civil Rights Observer says four plain-clothes officers followed and filmed two protesters holding a British colonial-era flag at July 1 march, despite the pair posing no threat

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
At the July 1 march the rights group claims it saw four plain-clothes officers following and filming two protesters holding a Hong Kong colonial-era flag. Photo: Sum Lok-kei

A human rights group has accused Hong Kong police of breaking with protocol on the use of body-worn cameras during two protest marches in July and October.

Advertisement

Civil Rights Observer published its first report on Sunday after training volunteers to monitor interaction between officers and demonstrators.

The group sent 12 observers to the city’s annual July 1 march at which organisers this year estimated the crowd numbered 50,000.

Three volunteers also monitored the October 1 National Day march that drew about 1,500 protesters.

The observers said they saw police filming peaceful demonstrators on both occasions. However, a 2015 report by the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) says recording should only be carried out for crime detection and for reviewing how events are policed.

Advertisement
Civil Rights Observer member Charles Tsang Wing presents evidence on Sunday. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Civil Rights Observer member Charles Tsang Wing presents evidence on Sunday. Photo: Jonathan Wong
loading
Advertisement