World

The Hong Kong police, often regarded as the most trusted in the region, have lost their reputation as several serious instances of violence and violation of their own rules are now coming to the surface, while Hong Kong enters its eighth month of protests against government policies curbing democratic rights. On November 11, a Hong Kong traffic police officer fired three live rounds at two unarmed protesters in a district located in the east of Hong Kong island early morning during a city-wide strike action. Passersby then argued with police and riot police fired pepper spray. Alleged gang rape by four at the police station Outrage grew as the public heard for the first time of an accusation of a gang rape inside a police station in Tsuen Wan back in September. On October 26 - four days after the police complaints office was notified of the incident - a police spokesperson said that it "Had not received any complaints of sexual assault" at the San Uk Ling Holding Centre, a separate facility which has come under fire as notorious for inmate abuse. At the time, police did not say whether they had received any complaints of sexual crimes in relation to Tsuen Wan Police Station or other police facilities. International experts called for independent investigation of police complaints Surveys show that the majority of Hong Kong people do not trust the police force and demand an independent investigation on police's abusive use of force. This story by Hong Kong Free Press originally appeared on Global Voices on November 11, 2019. (Pic courtesy: Studio Incendo)