Hong Kong news reporter takes police chief to court over alleged assault by officers during Mong Kok riot
- Lincoln Tang says officers dragged him off a bus, pushed him to the ground, kicked and then beat him with batons
- Complaints Against Police Office previously judged his case to be inconclusive and not pursuable
Lincoln Tang Lik-hang, formerly with Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao Daily, said police officers dragged him off a bus from where he was observing events, pushed him to the ground, kicked and then beat him with batons, even after he told them he was a journalist.
The force’s watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC), agreed with CAPO’s findings.
In a statement on Sunday, Tang said he would be submitting personal injury claims as the three-year time limit to commence such legal proceedings was coming up. He applied for legal aid last week.
“The incident is now almost three years old. I am very disappointed that the police investigation has failed to deliver me justice,” he said.
“I have decided to formally file a compensation claim for personal injury through the District Court from the commissioner of police, tomorrow [Monday].”
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On Monday, Tang’s lawyer filed a court document in which he said his client was “maliciously assaulted” by the officers, and his personal injuries and loss of earnings were caused by a breach of the city’s Bill of Rights.
Tang had previously stressed the amount of compensation was not important and he harboured no resentment towards those involved.
But, he said the incident was a threat to press freedom and the police should acknowledge their responsibility and prevent such incidents from happening again.
In addition to compensation for pain, suffering, and economic loss, Tang’s lawyer has also asked the court to consider awarding aggravated and exemplary damages from the police chief, a ruling that is typically made in cases involving grievous bodily harm, or as a deterrent against a similar event occurring in future.
Tang had earlier filed an appeal against the IPCC’s decision. But on Monday he said he received a letter from the independent watchdog that it had considered his review request and upon further examination of the video footage and information, concluded it still could not find any irregularities in the investigation of the complaints.
A police spokeswoman said CAPO had received the request for a review of its investigation results, and had handled it “according to established procedures in a fair and just manner”.
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In a statement, the Ming Pao Staff Association said it would provide full support and assistance to Tang.
Over Lunar New Year in 2016, a hawker control operation in one of the city’s most popular shopping districts turned ugly, descending into a night of clashes between protesters and police.
