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Hong Kong protests: police officer reprimanded after he was filmed saying he would celebrate student Chow Tsz-lok’s death ‘with champagne’

  • Group of riot police filmed on footbridge in Tuen Mun taunting protesters below
  • Police spokesman says force ‘highly concerned about use of inappropriate words’ by frontline officers

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Riot police officers gathered on a bridge in Tuen Mun were filmed taunting protesters below, with one saying they would celebrate the death of a student. Photo: Cable TV

At least one police officer has been reprimanded after suggesting he would celebrate the death of university student Chow Tsz-lok, who fell four metres in a car park last Monday while a force dispersal operation took place nearby.

Many Hongkongers took to the streets over the weekend to mark Chow’s death on Friday. Candlelight vigils were held in at least nine districts on Friday night, with some of those activities descending into chaotic confrontations between police and protesters.

As a group of riot police gathered on a footbridge in Tuen Mun, at least two of them were filmed by Cable TV taunting protesters on the ground.

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Flowers are laid in the Tseung Kwan O car park where Chow Tsz-lok fell. Photo: Edmond So
Flowers are laid in the Tseung Kwan O car park where Chow Tsz-lok fell. Photo: Edmond So

“Come and take revenge on us, cockroaches! We are opening a bottle of champagne to celebrate tonight, congratulations!” one of them shouted.

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Another police officer was heard repeating “cockroaches”, a common slur against protesters.

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