Police Must Start Showing ID Immediately, Says HKJA

The Hong Kong Journalists Association says police officers should start displaying their identification numbers immediately now the High Court has ruled that their failure to do so breaches the Bill of Rights.

In welcoming Thursday's judgement, the association also said the government has the responsibility to set up an independent investigation mechanism to handle complaints against the force after the court ruled that the current two-tier system involving the internal Complaints Against Police Office and the Independent Police Complaints Council go against the Bill of Rights.

The Journalist Association had filed a judicial review challenging the police practice of officers not displaying their ID when handling protests, as well as the complaints mechanism.

Former teacher Yeung Tsz-chung, who had also filed a judicial review challenging the police ID policy after suffering injuries to his right eye during a protest in June last year, said it's too early to say if justice has been served because it's not yet known if the government will appeal.

He told RTHK that the ruling came too late as there have already been many instances of alleged police brutality.

But he's hopeful that there will be more channels for people to seek justice in future after the judge found the existing complaints mechanism to be inadequate.

Separately, in a Facebook post, Yeung said it's only a small victory in light of the numerous cases facing protesters, and the demand for amnesty for those arrested has still not been met.