Hong Kong police battling activists for control of an underpass in the dead of night on Wednesday sparked public anger after officers were seen kicking a handcuffed protester in the worst violence since street demonstrations for greater democracy began more than two weeks ago.
Officers armed with riot shields and pepper spray knocked activists to the ground, dragging dozens away, and tore down barricades protesters used as roadblocks around the underpass outside the government’s headquarters.
Outrage over their aggressive tactics exploded after local TV showed half a dozen officers taking the protester around a dark corner and kicking him on the ground. It’s unclear what provoked the attack. Local Now TV showed footage of him splashing water on officers beforehand.
‘Hong Kong police have gone insane on Wednesday, carrying out their own punishment in private,’ said pro-democracy lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan. ‘Hong Kong’s values and its rule of law really have been completely destroyed by police chiefs.’
Beijing, meanwhile, issued its harshest condemnations yet of the protests, calling them illegal, bad for business and against Hong Kong’s best interests.
Officers armed with riot shields and pepper spray knocked activists to the ground, dragging dozens away, and tore down barricades protesters used as roadblocks around the underpass outside the government’s headquarters.
Outrage over their aggressive tactics exploded after local TV showed half a dozen officers taking the protester around a dark corner and kicking him on the ground. It’s unclear what provoked the attack. Local Now TV showed footage of him splashing water on officers beforehand.
‘Hong Kong police have gone insane on Wednesday, carrying out their own punishment in private,’ said pro-democracy lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan. ‘Hong Kong’s values and its rule of law really have been completely destroyed by police chiefs.’
Beijing, meanwhile, issued its harshest condemnations yet of the protests, calling them illegal, bad for business and against Hong Kong’s best interests.