Hong Kong police used ‘retaliatory violence’ against arrested protesters, according to Amnesty International report
- Findings include interviews with 21 people who claim they were punched or beaten with batons by police even when they did not put up any resistance
- Amnesty says it has documented a pattern of police using unnecessary and excessive force during arrests
Hong Kong’s embattled police force has been accused of resorting to “retaliatory violence” by torturing or ill-treating suspects arrested during the ongoing protest crisis, according to an investigation by a human rights group.
The findings released on Friday by NGO Amnesty International included interviews with 21 people arrested but later released, who claimed they were punched or severely beaten by officers with batons even when they did not put up any resistance.
Others claimed they were assaulted or threatened at police stations.
The report came as another group of 10 people who accused police of the same actions launched a “Sue the Abuser” crowdfunding scheme in a bid to raise HK$10 million to launch civil actions against the force.
Among them was Ng Ying-mo, who said he was shot in the stomach with a rubber bullet during protests in Admiralty on June 12, and Samson Chan, who claimed officers hit his head with batons when he was strolling in a park with his son in Tseung Kwan O on August 4.