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Protesters have repeatedly called for an investigation into police conduct during the anti-government protests. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam pledges other options if police conduct probe cannot quell public anger at force handling of anti-government protests

  • Investigation by police watchdog will focus on controversial episodes during recent unrest, such as mob attack in Yuen Long and police charge on Prince Edward station
  • If it does not assuage residents’ concerns, Lam will ‘definitely think of another way to make a sufficient response to the public’

Hong Kong’s leader on Sunday pledged to find other ways to assuage public concerns about police conduct if an official probe into key incidents during more than four months of political turmoil failed to do the job.

Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) would focus on controversial episodes during the recent anti-government unrest, including the Yuen Long mob attack and the police charge on Prince Edward station.

But she did not specify what she would do if the police watchdog’s report, due by the end of this year, does not placate angry residents.

Protesters have repeatedly demanded an independent commission of inquiry into the alleged wrongdoing, but Lam has rejected that, saying the IPCC investigation will suffice. She earlier appointed two more members to the council – former Bar Association chairman Paul Lam Ting-kwok and former deputy ombudsman Helen Yu Lai Ching-ping – in a bid to enhance public confidence.

Speaking in an interview with TVB, Lam said the IPCC probe would cover several controversial incidents, including the Yuen Long attack on the night of July 21, when a rampaging mob, mostly dressed in white, assaulted protesters and passengers indiscriminately in and around an MTR station.

Police action at Prince Edward MTR station on August 31 – after which rumours spread that protesters were killed, despite a lack of any evidence – and alleged abuse at San Uk Ling Holding Centre in Sheung Shui would also be covered.

“Up to now, these incidents are what the public are most concerned about. On the night of July 21 in Yuen Long, what happened with the white-clad and black-clad men? On August 31 at Prince Edward station, were there any deaths? And at a later stage in San Uk Ling Holding Centre, whether the alleged incidents by some people did happen there,” she said.

“I believe the IPCC will quickly look into these key incidents and deliver a view in its report.”

Lam said she did not want to speculate on the IPCC report. But she promised to do something to address people’s concerns if the report failed to do so.

Police treatment of children arrested at Hong Kong protests raises concern

“We sincerely hope to show the public the truth about these incidents,” she said.

“But if the report of the independent IPCC, when it is delivered, still fails to quell the controversies with a lot of doubts in society, at that time I believe the chief executive and the [Hong Kong] government will definitely think of another way to make a sufficient response to the public,” she said.

During the months of unrest, sparked in June by opposition to a since-withdrawn extradition bill, protesters have clashed regularly with police on the city’s streets, often decrying officers’ behaviour and tactics. The force has repeatedly used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons, in response to radical protesters armed with rods, petrol bombs and bricks.

Lam also said she was mulling plans to provide extra help for underage students prosecuted in relation to the social unrest, as long as it was in line with the law.

Carrie Lam has denounced the protesters’ demand for amnesty. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

“I can only say that I have this power. Under the Basic Law, this is not something against the rule of law,” she said.

More than 2,300 people have been arrested since the protests broke out, among whom about 750 were under 18 and 105 under 16. Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung earlier described the number of arrested youths as “shocking” and “heartbreaking”.

Lam did not give details of the help she could give, or whether she could pardon the youngsters.

“If I say anything today I am afraid this would send the wrong message to society, that it doesn’t matter if you break the law as this will be pardoned,” she said, calling on adults to better protect their children and prevent them from taking part in any illegal acts.

On July 21 a rampaging mob attacked protesters and passengers in and around Yuen Long MTR station. Photo: Handout

Under Article 48 of the Basic Law, the chief executive has the power to “pardon persons convicted of criminal offences or commute their penalties”.

On Wednesday, Lam publicly denounced protesters’ demand for amnesty as “totally against the rule of law in Hong Kong”.

“To demand the chief executive do something that is illegal and unlawful, and deviates from the important principle of the rule of law is something that I am afraid I could not concede,” she said at the time.

Police deploy bomb disposal robot as Hong Kong protesters go on rampage

During the interview, Lam also vowed, after the protests had died down, to collect public views, to see whether there was a need to introduce changes to help the force regain public trust, as well as to consider possible improvements to the way law and order is maintained.

Pro-establishment legislator Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, who is also a barrister, said Lam should set up an investigation panel to probe the wider unrest in a similar vein to the Riots Communities and Victims Panel, formed in Britain in 2011.

That panel examined the roots of rioting in August that year which took hold in 66 locations across England following a protest over the fatal shooting of a black man in north London by police.

“I am very unhappy with the way the government has handled the current crisis as this is not just about the conflict between police and protesters. It concerns a lot of things including what has gone wrong with the government,” Leung said.

She said Lam should draw on the experience of Britain’s riot panel and require the new body to make recommendations for pardons in some cases.

“The new panel could then tackle the cases of underage students and see which ones should be given special leniency,” she said.

Police treatment of children arrested at Hong Kong protests raises concern

Pro-democracy lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen, representing the education sector, said many did not have confidence in the IPCC, seeing it as a toothless tiger.

“Lam should set up an independent commission of inquiry to really address the issues like police’s alleged misconduct,” he said.

He also called for the government to avoid aggravating the situation for arrested children.

“There are many things the government could do to further protect the arrested children’s interests, such as refraining from seeking a protection order to separate them from their families,” he said.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Lam pledges other options if probe fails to quell ire
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