Civic Party activist may sue police over alleged beating during Occupy protests

A Civic Party activist said he may pursue a private prosecution against seven police officers who allegedly kicked and hit him during violent clashes in Admiralty at the height of the Occupy movement in mid-October.

Social worker Ken Tsang Kin-chiu criticised the police and the Department of Justice for failing to decide on whether to take legal action against the suspended and arrested officers six months after the incident.

The High Court will hear a judicial review application by Tsang tomorrow requesting that police disclose the names of the officers involved. He will also seek a court declaration on whether the treatment he received was "cruel, inhuman or degrading, if not torture".

"Even with some court cases against Occupy protesters now over, little progress has been still made on this allegation. So is it a double standard when handling the case against police officers?" Tsang said yesterday.

TVB footage shot during the overnight police operation to clear a road near government headquarters appeared to show seven officers taking turns to kick and punch Tsang as he lay on the ground in a darkened recess.

The officers were later suspended from duty and then arrested, but the police force did not officially disclose their names. Tsang said having the officers' names would be important in filing a private prosecution against them.

"I hope the Department of Justice can make a decision [on prosecution] soon, but I have never given up the option to file a private prosecution," said Tsang.

"However, that would be a last resort because it would involve expensive [legal] costs and technical difficulties in putting forward evidence."

Last month, Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung said the department had received a report on Tsang's case.

Meanwhile, Osman Cheng Chung-hang, who was allegedly hit by former Sha Tin divisional commander Superintendent Franklin Chu King-wai as he passed by a protest site in Mong Kok in late November, also criticised police for not following up his complaint promptly.

Cheng wrote to the force's Complaints Against Police Office in January. He only received a reply last month, saying his complaint had yet to be classified.

"I feel that the police have been using delay tactics. I am really doubtful whether they enforce the law impartially," said Cheng.