Senior part-time Hong Kong police officer suspended over suspected leaking of protest operational plans on New Year’s Eve
- The acting auxiliary police superintendent, surnamed Lo, is the first officer to be suspended over misconduct allegations since protests began in June
- Lo, 48, is under internal investigation over photo and caption detailing operations in Mong Kok and posted on Telegram group with almost 65,000 members
A part-time senior Hong Kong police officer has been suspended from duty over the suspected leaking of operational plans against anti-government protesters on New Year’s Eve, the first such incident since unrest broke out last summer.
Lo, assistant divisional commander (auxiliary) of Mong Kok district at the time, is under internal investigation over a photograph and caption – detailing operations in Mong Kok district on Tuesday night – posted on messaging app Telegram, in a group with almost 65,000 members, mainly protesters.
The picture, which showed a dozen officers in riot gear and a police vehicle on a road, was suspected to have been taken from height in Mong Kok Police Station.
The caption read: “Notification from an auxiliary police friend. Police have ordered frontline [officers] to outflank protesters on Tong Mei Road, Mong Kok Road, Nathan Road and Prince Edward Road … All arrested persons will be sent to Hung Hom Police Station. 100 per cent real. He overheard the radio calls.”