Hong Kong doctor among those arrested amid anti-government protests in Admiralty, source says
- Doctor surnamed Tse working at Queen Mary Hospital was detained during clashes in Admiralty on Sunday evening, according to the source
- Police say they arrested a person for holding a hiking stick, and that they make arrests based on evidence and not occupation
A public hospital doctor in Hong Kong was among more than 140 people arrested amid anti-government protests on Sunday, a source said.
The doctor, who worked in the accident and emergency department of Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam, was arrested in Admiralty when clashes erupted there between protesters and police, according to the source.
“The doctor claimed he did not throw petrol bombs or charge at police,” the source said, adding the medic was surnamed Tse.
It was not yet clear why Tse was at the protest scene and why police arrested him, but the Post was told he was currently receiving legal help.
In a press conference on Monday, police said they did not target medical officers when arresting protesters.
“We made arrests based on evidence and circumstances, not occupation,” Senior Superintendent Kong Wing-cheung from the Police Public Relations Branch said.
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Responding to a question on why the doctor was arrested, Kong said the force had taken into custody a man who “was holding a hiking stick and without any clothing which would identify him as a member of any kind of voluntary medical staff”.
He said the arrest was made during a dispersion operation in Central and Admiralty at around 5pm on Sunday.
The suspect, thought to be the doctor, was detained until late on Monday afternoon.
A spokesman for the Hospital Authority said on Monday that some health care staff might have been involved in voluntary rescue work in their personal capacity.
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“The Hospital Authority reminds them to obey the law and take note of personal safety and the surrounding situation,” the spokesman said.
He added that the authority would not comment on employees’ matters outside work.
“If an employee is involved in any legal procedure and makes any requests, the Hospital Authority, as the employer, will provide appropriate support,” he said, explaining that this would include emotional counselling and work arrangements.
