Questions over credibility of Hong Kong Police Force as security chief says riot squad uniforms have no room for officers’ identity numbers
- Special Tactical Squad members accused of police brutality did not have their identifying numbers displayed on their uniforms
- At same time, hundreds of frontline officers have complained of bullying and a public hate campaign, including posting of personal data online
At the same time, hundreds of frontline officers and their families have complained of bullying and a public hate campaign against them, including the posting of their personal information online, by critics accusing them of abusing their power.
On Wednesday, Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu said there was no space on the uniforms of Special Tactical Squad (STS) officers to display their numbers, sparking anger and online mockery.
Many people took to social media to complain, with some saying that even beauty pageant contestants displayed numbers on their swimsuits.
Photos from the Post and other media outlets showed STS officers always displayed their numbers on their uniforms during the 2014 Occupy Central movement, the 2016 Mong Kok riot and as recently as June 9, during clashes outside the legislature.