‘Conflict of interest’: Mong Kok riot probe likely to be led by director of police operation
Questions raised of a possible conflict of interest if police commissioner appoints assistant to investigate tactics blamed for high injury toll
The policeman in charge of the Mong Kok riot operations is likely to chair a review of what happened that night, sparking concern about the impartiality of the probe, the Post has learnt.
To quell the anger of frontline officers who blame the high injury toll suffered at the hands of the street mob on police tactics, Police Commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung on Friday promised a review of operations.
A senior police source close to the matter told the Post that Lo intended to appoint Senior Assistant Commissioner Alan Lau Yip-shing, who is director of operations, to lead the review committee.
The source said many fellow officers questioned if Lau was the right candidate as he made most of the decisions that night.
READ MORE: ‘Stunned’ Hong Kong police reject official review of tactics and equipment for Mong Kok riot, believe it’s a ‘whitewash’
“There is surely a conflict of interest if Lau takes the lead,” the source told.