HONG KONG-PROTESTS/COURT Hong Kong policemen granted bail over protester beating

Record ID: 135267

  • Title: HONG KONG-PROTESTS/COURT Hong Kong policemen granted bail over protester beating
  • Date: 19th October 2015
  • Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (OCTOBER 19, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** SEVEN POLICE OFFICERS (IN SUITS) WALKING INTO EASTERN LAW COURTS BUILDING SIGN READING (English): "EASTERN LAW COURTS BUILDING" KEN TSANG, PRO-DEMOCRACY PROTESTER WHO WAS FILMED BEING BEATEN BY POLICEMEN LAST YEAR AND CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING A POLICE OFFICER AND OBSTRUCTING THE POLICE,
  • Embargoed: 3rd November 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAA6IBQPAU41NHLF2NA56HEKA6B
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Seven police officers accused of beating pro-democracy activist, Ken Tsang, during the Occupy protests in Hong Kong last year were granted bail on Monday (October 19).
    The officers were charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and common assault.
    Last week, Tsang was charged with assaulting police and resisting police.
    Footage of the attack on Tsang in October last year went viral, sparking outrage from some lawmakers and the public.
    "We are really very angry and it is very much absurd that Ken Tsang, being the victim of police violence, was being prosecuted. Of course, we believe that the seven police that beat him up should be prosecuted. But at the same time, the government prosecute also Ken Tsang, the victim. And I think the whole reason for that is they want to cover up and lessen the police violence on Ken Tsang and try to frame Ken Tsang for, you know, resisting arrest, or you know, trying to obstruct police order and instruction, and things like that," said prominent lawmaker, Lee Chuk-yan, outside the courthouse.
    Protesters have been demanding full democracy for the former British colony and for Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leader, Leung Chun-ying, to step down.
    However, pro-government factions have also rallied behind the police.
    "We don't believe any lies exist at the moment. But the thing is we have to check one point, it is the point of provocation. In what way that the seven policemen, what they were doing not only is try to arrest that criminal. But the thing is the evidence together with the provocation should be considered at that point," said Leticia Lee, the founder of "The Alliance In Support Of Our Police Force".
    Weeks of protests failed to persuade Beijing to lift a restriction on who can stand for election as Hong Kong's leader in the next vote in 2017.
    China rules Hong Kong under a "one country, two systems" formula that accords the city a degree of autonomy and freedom not enjoyed in mainland China, with universal suffrage an eventual goal.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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