Rights Groups Issue Joint Call For June 12 Probe

In an open letter, 32 organisations, including Amnesty Hong Kong and Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor, have called on top officials to set up an independent probe into the use of force by police on June 12.

The letter – addressed to Chief Executive Carrie Lam, Security Secretary John Lee and Police Commissioner Stephen Lo – also warned that a failure to take appropriate action now will undermine Hong Kong police's reputation.

They highlight several areas of particular concern, including the use of tear gas outside Citic Tower where protesters had no escape route, the beating of a female protester who was already on the ground, the firing of rubber bullets into crowds – with one person hit in the face – and the spraying of pepper liquid into the face of a man who was sitting near Lung Wo Road.

They say the existing police complaints system is inadequate, and various United Nations bodies have criticised its shortcomings.

The groups say an inquiry should provide the basis for bringing charges against any law enforcement officers, as well as their superiors, found to be responsible for the unlawful use of force.

The setting up of an inquiry is also one of the demands of extradition bill demonstrators – who have kept up their protests in recent weeks. Protesters have also demanded an end to the labelling of the June 12 protest as a “riot”.

However, in a statement, the Law Society on Friday dismissed concerns about the use of the word "riot".

The society said public prosecutors only consider the evidence when deciding whether to prosecute someone, and the labelling of an act is irrelevant in this objective process.