Hong Kong protests: police watchdog must investigate abuse allegations at San Uk Ling Holding Centre

I am a locally-born Hong Kong citizen. Increasingly worried with the near-daily violent stand-offs, my peers and I have recently written to Dr Anthony Neoh, the chairman of the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC), to call for an investigation into the allegations of brutal beating and torture at San Uk Ling Holding Centre. The letter has also been copied to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the hope of arousing international attention.

The unrest that has gripped Hong Kong since early June seems unlikely to end in the next few months. Regardless of political stance, any kind of violence should not be encouraged – and the police should be no exception.

We expressed in the letter our deepest worries in relation to the protesters who were allegedly mistreated by the police in San Uk Ling Holding Centre, located near the border with mainland China. We insisted that such mistreatment, if proved, contravened the values held dear by the people of any civil society, including Hong Kong.

As the IPCC is an independent body responsible for overseeing the Hong Kong Police Force to ensure that it operates in accordance with the law, we urged Dr Neoh as the IPCC chairman to actively follow up on the allegations of police misbehaviour and to firmly make clarifications if they are found to be untrue. A just IPCC would gain the respect and trust of the public.

C.K. Chan, Tin Shui Wai

Both protesters and police must rein in violence

I strongly oppose the extradition bill due to the uncertainties we would face if it passed, and sincerely thank the Hongkongers who spared no effort to fight for our freedom. The memory of them standing together to oppose the bill will surely never fade away.

However, some protesters’ actions, such as vandalism at MTR stations and arson, are too extreme and dangerous. I understand that Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s ignoring millions of people who took to the streets since June pushed Hongkongers to express their opinions in different ways. I really appreciate the human chains, the “Lennon Walls” and the strikes which bring people together. However, expressing one’s opinions with violence, blood, fire and anger are not the way forward.

At the same time, the way the police has arrested protesters and how they treat them is unacceptable. The police inaction on July 21 in Yuen Long was shocking. It is sad that the police is not making any changes and respecting the strong unity of Hongkongers.

I hope both protesters and the police could each perform their duties peacefully and think twice before taking action.

Joyce Tsang, Tseung Kwan O