The Hong Kong Police in citing destruction of facilities and assaulting a member of the public inside the MTR station as pretexts, stormed into Prince Edward Station and inside train carriages, indiscriminately attacking passengers with their batons, similar to what happened on the 21st of July at Yuen Long. Amnesty International Hong Kong issued a statement today (1st September, 2019), condemning the police operation last night for falling far short of international policing standards.
Amnesty International HK stated that, “Video footage showed police stormed the train carriage and used batons to repeatedly beat people posing no threat whatsoever. Pepper spray was used in a carriage where people had no means to retreat, while medics were barred from entering the station. It is also alarming that a police officer appeared to aim a sponge grenade launcher at close range to those inside the train. Such unlawful police tactics continue to inflame rather than de-escalate the situation.”
In regards to the deployment of undercover officers, Amnesty International HK reaffirmed that, “…officers should never act as agents provocateurs. It creates mistrust and suspicion, and sow divisions among people who have the right to assemble and associate.”
In addition, “For the first time [yesterday], policed used a blue dye in water cannons, which can result in large numbers of people, including bystanders and journalists, being indiscriminately marked.” The statement pointed out that, “These tactics pose a real threat to the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and the right to a fair trial.”
Amnesty International HK reiterates that, “the police operation on Saturday only underscores the urgent need for an independent and proper investigation into the policing of the protests.”