Plainclothes HK police officers filmed beating a handcuffed protester

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Hong Kong's justice chief insisted on Wednesday (Oct 15) that any prosecution of plainclothes officers who were filmed beating a handcuffed protester would be handled impartially, as fresh clashes broke out on the city's streets.

The accused officers were removed from their posts after the assault, which occurred early Wednesday when police swooped to clear newly-erected barricades blocking a road near government headquarters in the city's Admiralty district.

A police officer threatens to pepper
spray a pro-democracy protester.

Just 24 hours later a small contingent attempted to retake an underpass on the same road, leading to a confrontation that saw protesters pepper-sprayed and police heckled with chants accusing them of links with criminal triad gangs.

Crowds intermittently numbering in the tens of thousands have blocked main roads in three districts of the semi-autonomous Chinese city since Sep 28.

They are angered at China's insistence that it vet candidates standing for election as the city's next leader in 2017.

Tensions have risen in recent days as police began tearing down some barricades around protest sites. Officers have used fists, batons and pepper spray to beat back crowds in an operation they defended as a necessary response to ensure public order.

But footage from television network TVB later emerged of a group of plainclothes officers assaulting a handcuffed and unarmed protester, sparking outrage and calls for prosecution from activists and lawmakers. It shows officers hauling the man to a dark corner of a public park, and placing him on the ground.

One officer stands over the man and punches him, as three others are seen repeatedly kicking him in an assault TVB said lasted four minutes. Police later said seven officers had been identified in relation to the video.



The incident become another public relations disaster for the police, who were severely criticised for firing tear gas on umbrella-wielding protesters on Sep 28 in a move that attracted worldwide attention. Demonstrators have also accused officers of failing to come to their aid during several attacks by violent pro-government thugs.

Patience with protesters is running short in some quarters, with shop owners and taxi drivers losing business and commuters voicing irritation at disruptions and delays.

However, citizens waited for hours on Wednesday evening to file complaints about the videotaped beating. "The police have completely lost the respect of the people of Hong Kong. I'm speechless," said one, Amy Chan.