Pan-democrat lawmakers hit out at police officer for comments on social media against Hong Kong government and judiciary officials

Lawmakers write to Secretary for the Civil Service Joshua Law, claiming Sergeant Lau Chak-kei gave ‘political speech’ and breached code

Police and Civil Service Bureau choose not to comment on the case but say their staff enjoy the same rights as any other Hongkonger

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Sergeant Lau Chak-kei became a celebrated figure in mainland China after he raised a shotgun at Hong Kong’s anti-government protesters at Kwai Chung in July. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:34am, 23 Oct 2019Updated: 3:25am, 23 Oct 2019

Pan-democrat lawmakers in Hong Kong have hit out at a police officer celebrated across the border for “political comments” he made on Chinese social media against the city’s government and judiciary officials.

Sergeant Lau Chak-kei became a celebrated figure in mainland China after he raised a shotgun at anti-government protesters, who threw objects at him, at Kwai Chung in July.

Lau, who opened his account on Weibo in 2011, saw a surge of new followers there following the incident, rising to more than 867,000 people on Tuesday.

He was also among some Hong Kong police officers invited to the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing.

Sergeant Lau Chak-kei wrote on social media he found it “unimaginable” that government officials would meet “rioters”. Photo: Xinhua

In a letter to Secretary for the Civil Service Joshua Law Chi-kong on Tuesday, 24 pan-democrats said Lau often gave “political speech” on Weibo and questioned if the practice was in conformity with the Civil Service Code and the Police General Orders. They also referred to his comments which described protesters as “cockroaches”.

Chapter six of the Police General Orders says police officers should not take part in political activities, including “speaking publicly … on matters of a political nature other than in the course of official duties”.