Hong Kong protests: panel of international experts denied request to comment on interim report into police handling by Independent Police Complaints Council
- Revelation comes day after five-member panel stands aside from ongoing probe, saying dialogue ‘has not led to any agreed process’
- Vice-chairman of Independent Police Complaints Council Tony Tse says it was felt that it was inappropriate to allow panel to comment at this stage
Hong Kong’s police watchdog snubbed a request by a panel of international experts to comment on a preliminary investigation report on the force’s handling of months of anti-government protests, the Post has learned.
The revelation came after a five-member panel announced it was to “stand aside” from the Independent Police Complaints Council’s ongoing probe on Thursday, saying their dialogue “has not led to any agreed process”.
Critics said the bombshell cast doubts over the credibility of the IPCC’s investigation, especially after the experts proposed giving the watchdog more power to launch a full investigation into officers’ conduct during the protests triggered by a now-withdrawn extradition bill.
The IPCC is currently investigating the handling of major protests on June 9 and 12, July 1, August 1 and 31, as well as a mob attack on demonstrators and passengers at Yuen Long MTR station on July 21.
But an “interim” report, due to be published in late January, would only focus on three dates: June 9 and 12 and July 1. It was unclear when the rest of the investigation would be completed.