Trio launch court action against Hong Kong police over failure to display identification numbers during anti-government protests

Three men who claim they were assaulted by Hong Kong police during anti-government protests are taking court action over officers’ failure to display their identification numbers, which they say was designed to stop them making formal complaints.

Father Chan Kung-shun, legislative assistant Lo Cham-sze, and a man named Ng Hong-luen filed their joint judicial challenge at the High Court on Monday, and said the tactics breached the city’s human rights statute and an international convention.

The three filed their suit days after teacher Yeung Tsz-chun, who said he was hit by a projectile fired by police during a protest, started a similar action targeting officers from the Special Tactical Squad.

But the challenge on Monday focused on a wider group of officers, including those from the anti-riot unit, alongside the Raptors that Yeung has targeted.

The court filing claimed Tseung Kwan O resident Chan, 51, was hit on the head with a baton by an officer on August 4 when he was on his way home with his son. He needed nine stitches to a wound on the rear of his head, it said.

Lo, meanwhile, said he was hit by pepper spray in Sha Tin on July 14, and Ng alleged he was beaten by a group of officers in Admiralty on June 12, and had to spend the night in hospital.