- Three men all claim they were hurt during protests but lack of numbers makes it difficult to lodge formal complaint
- Court filing claims situation violates city’s Bill of Rights
Three men who claim they were assaulted by Hong Kong police during anti-government protests are taking court action over officers' failure to display their identification numbers, which they say was designed to stop them making formal complaints.
Father Chan Kung-shun, legislative assistant Lo Cham-sze, and a man named Ng Hong-luen filed their joint judicial challenge at the High Court on Monday, and said the tactics breached the city's human rights statute and an international convention.
The three filed their suit days after teacher Yeung Tsz-chun, who said he was hit by a projectile fired by police during a protest, started a similar action targeting officers from the Special Tactical Squad.
But the challenge on Monday focused on a wider group of officers, including those from the anti-riot unit, alongside the Raptors that Yeung has targeted.
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The court filing claimed Tseung Kwan O resident Chan, 51, was hit on the head with a baton by an officer on August 4 when he was on his way home with his son. He needed nine stitches to a wound on the rear of his head, it said.
Lo, meanwhile, said he was hit by pepper spray in Sha Tin on July 14, and Ng alleged he was beaten by a group of officers in Admiralty on June 12, and had to spend the night in hospital.
None of the three have been charged with a criminal offence, although Ng is out on police bail after being arrested, according to the court filing.
It said the police's failure to display their identification numbers violated the city's Bill of Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The provisions guarantee rights to no torture and to make complaints.
"The failure seriously hampers the effectiveness of any investigation of ill-treatment committed by anti-riot police officers and (the special tactics squad) from the outset," said the writ, which asked the court to demand the police commissioner direct his officers to make ramifications.
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Since June, more than 190 people have been charged, the latest one being Lau Yuen-ling, 45, who was brought to Eastern Court on Monday.
The woman, who is accused of assaulting an officer with a mooncake box during an anti-government protest at Sha Tin MTR station on September 7, was granted bail until her return on October 23.
At the same court, Leung Pak-tim appeared again after being charged earlier with wounding and unlawful assembly over another Sha Tin protest on July 14.
He said he had lost his job after a pro-Beijing lawmaker published "slanderous and untruthful" remarks about him on social media.
Additional reporting by Brian Wong
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