Pro-democracy lawmakers in push to invoke special Legco powers to launch investigation into alleged police brutality amid Hong Kong protests

Proposals up for debate in legislature, but pro-establishment camp, which holds majority of seats, expected to block motions

Among incidents cited are June 12 protest at Legco, July 21 Yuen Long attacks and August 31 Prince Edward MTR clash

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Riot officers on Harcourt Road in Admiralty. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 8:37pm, 18 Dec 2019Updated: 8:32am, 19 Dec 2019

Pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong have proposed invoking special legislative powers to investigate alleged brutality in police’s handling of protests.

Three motions concerning a demonstration outside the Legislative Council on June 12 were put to a debate on Wednesday. The proposals are expected to be voted down by the pro-establishment camp when the discussion resumes on Thursday.

The June 12 protest saw tens of thousands of people occupying roads outside Legco in a bid to stop the second reading of the now-withdrawn extradition bill that sparked the months-long unrest.

Police fired hundreds of tear gas rounds, rubber bullets and beanbag rounds to disperse the crowd and had declared the incident a riot.

Riot officers use pepper spray to disperse crowds outside Legco on June 12. Photo: Sam Tsang

Civic Party lawmaker Jeremy Tam Man-ho, who moved one of the motions on Wednesday, said police brutality had since become “a daily routine”.

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