Hong Kong police chief rejects claims in US report on human rights

Andy Tsang takes issue with a US report on human rights that highlights local criticism

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Commissioner of Police Andy Tsang Wai-hung. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 12:00am, 21 Apr 2013Updated: 2:16am, 26 Apr 2013

An official US report on human rights in Hong Kong has drawn attention to local concerns over freedom of assembly and claims that police are turning to aggressive, abusive tactics.

Police Commissioner Andy Tsang Wai-hung yesterday rejected those accusations as unfounded.

The report, compiled by the US State Department and sent to Congress, looks at human rights around the world. On Hong Kong, the report stated that while the government "generally respected" the rights of freedom of assembly in practice, "activists and pan-democratic legislators expressed concern that the government took a more restrictive view of protests at the central government liaison office".

"Demonstrators continued to claim that their ability to protest had become increasingly difficult due to Hong Kong Police Commissioner Andy Tsang," the report said. "Some activists also alleged that police faced no penalty for making arrests that ultimately were not prosecuted or were dismissed by the courts."

Tsang said that of about 7,500 public events held last year, only 40 involved police arrests.

"Nearly 70 per cent [of the arrests] were made because other people's rights or property were affected," he said. "The police took action on reports. I totally disagree with any remarks that say the police suppress freedom of expression or assembly."