Hong Kong protests: no systemic problem with policing, but room to improve, watchdog concludes
- In long-awaited report, Independent Police Complaints Council says officers only used force in reaction to last year’s violent disturbances
- Recommendations include review of operational command structure, more training for officers, and clear guidelines on the use of weapons
In its 999-page report released on Friday, the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) made 52 recommendations, including a review of the force’s operational command structure, more training for officers, clear guidelines on the use of weapons, and a task force to advise on the frequent use of tear gas.
While the IPCC maintained that investigating individual officers’ conduct was beyond the scope of its statutory powers, the report was widely criticised by opposition politicians, human-rights watchers and others who renewed calls for an independent commission of inquiry into allegations of police brutality.
“I am not naive enough to think that the publication of the report or my response to the report, even accepting all the recommendations for implementation, will put an end to this social unrest. But at least we will make every attempt to follow through the recommendations,” Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said.
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Against a stage backdrop bearing the words “The Truth About Hong Kong”, and plastered with images of last summer’s protest violence, Lam once again ruled out setting up a commission of inquiry, saying the nature of the movement had changed into a campaign to bend the government to its will by using violence.
Lam promised a new task force headed by the security minister would follow up on every recommendation, and that would include drafting, together with industry bodies, guidelines for journalists reporting at protest scenes and improving identification of police officers with clear badge numbers.
