8 men pepper-sprayed by Hong Kong police after alleged disorderly behaviour inside public hospital waiting area
- Officers were called to confront eight men smelling of alcohol at a waiting area in Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai on Wednesday morning
- One suspect also arrested on suspicion of assaulting officer, resisting arrest
Hong Kong police pepper-sprayed eight suspected triad members accused of behaving in a disorderly manner at Ruttonjee Hospital on Wednesday morning.
Officers were called to the waiting area of the public hospital’s accident and emergency department on Queen’s Road East in Wan Chai, where the incident took place at 8.19am.
A police source said the eight men, aged 19 to 26, were suspected members of a Sun Yee On triad gang.
An investigation suggested one of the men tripped while drinking at a party, injuring himself, and the others took him to hospital, the insider said.
“A preliminary investigation suggested the gang lost patience while waiting for consultation and had a dispute with hospital staff,” he said, adding the employees then called police.
The force said in a statement the eight men were found to have behaved emotionally and refused to cooperate when officers arrived.
“When they ignored verbal warnings, officers used pepper spray to subdue them,” police said.